Vice President Duterte urges de-escalation in dispute with Chinese ambassador
Vice President Sara Duterte said she will not side with China in the diplomatic row sparked by ambassador Jing Quan’s remarks, urging the dispute be de-escalated.
In response to a heated exchange with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, Vice President Sara Duterte stated she will not align with Beijing, according to her spokesperson Paolo Panelo. Panelo explained that Duterte believes elected officials should not intervene in diplomatic talks, which are the purview of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Her position calls for a reduction of tensions and a diplomatic solution to the dispute.
The controversy intensified after Jing Quan suggested China could easily win a conflict with the Philippines but chooses peace. Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a resolution seeking to declare the ambassador persona non grata, to which the Chinese Embassy in Manila warned it would treat any unwelcome diplomats with reciprocal measures.
Why it matters
The stance highlights the Philippines' approach to a sensitive China-Philippines tension and may affect regional diplomatic relations.
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