MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs has rebuked the Chinese Embassy in Manila over a string of "escalatory and undiplomatic" social media posts targeting Filipino officials since the Chinese ambassador remarked last week that China could “easily win” if it used force.
In a statement on Thursday, October 22, the department called out the embassy for what it says are statements that "erode mutual trust and confidence" and severely undermine efforts to stabilize and improve bilateral relations.
It reminded all diplomats accredited to the Philippines to exercise restraint and responsibility in public, "especially on social media," and said it reserved the right to take further diplomatic action. It did not say what that action could be.
"The recent public statements of the Embassy do not reflect the longstanding spirit of constructive engagement between the two countries and the two foreign ministries. Such statements are not conducive to good relations nor to the effective discharge of diplomatic functions," the DFA said.
Even so, the Philippines "values its relations" with China, the statement read.
Calls from lawmakers to declare Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata have not stopped the embassy from churning out sharply worded posts, many of them aimed at the legislators seeking his expulsion.
The embassy has dialed up the provocative tone of its public statements since Jing arrived in December 2025, often assailing Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela and other elected officials who criticize China's actions in the West Philippine Sea.
Two resolutions in the Senate and one filed by 10 House members have asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to expel Jing or ask Beijing to recall him. In turn, the embassy, in several posts, has dared lawmakers to go ahead with his expulsion and warned more Filipino officials would be barred from China if Jing were expelled.
On Tuesday, the embassy reposted a joint statement by House members calling for his removal with the caption, “Put on record. You are now on the list.”
The word war between the embassy and Philippine officials ramped up after Jing said in a chance interview with reporters on October 15: “If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not use force. You know, we love peace, and in this region, we enjoy the peace.”
This remark prompted the DFA to summon Jing on Monday. Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said the words of the ambassador were “provocative and unacceptable” and detrimental to the already sensitive relationship between the two countries.
The DFA has said declaring a diplomat persona non grata was an option of last resort.
In its statement Thursday, the DFA also reaffirmed the Philippines’ adherence to its One China Policy, after a post by the embassy asked the department to clarify Manila’s position on Taiwan.
"In response to recent postings on social media, the DFA reaffirms the Philippines’ continued adherence to its One China Policy, anchored on the 1975 Philippines-China Joint Communique," the DFA said.
"It underscores our consistent position that the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government of China, and that we fully understand and respect the position of the Chinese Government that there is but one China and that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory," it added.