China's Manila embassy pushes back after calls to expel its diplomats

During a press conference, Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon called for the deportation of lower-ranking Chinese diplomats, noting that the ambassador had already been discussed but continued to make statements. The Department of Foreign Affairs had summoned Ambassador Jing Quan to express serious concern and strong objection to his claim that China would "easily win" in a forceful scenario over the West Philippine Sea.

The Chinese embassy replied on social media, asking whether proposals to declare the ambassador persona non grata constituted threats or coercion, and urged the Philippines to stop bluffing. In a separate post, the embassy described Senator Kiko Pangilinan's call to send the ambassador back as using "thuggish, hooligan-style language." Earlier this year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had rejected proposals to declare the ambassador persona non grata amid ongoing tensions over the maritime dispute.