‘Go ahead, make my day’

What’s worse than assassins using an RPG or rocket-propelled grenade to assassinate a mayor in broad daylight? Or a drug bust resulting in four vehicles and innocent bystanders injured? Or a Japanese tourist being robbed and clubbed by his assailant?

Well, it probably would be the Chinese embassy spokesman figuratively saying, “Go ahead, make my day.”

When The Philippine STAR frontpage headline read: “BBM can expel China envoy,” I assumed that the source of the statement was an administration congressman, senator or a former member of the diplomatic core giving unsolicited advice.

Unfortunately, it was the Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng, saying there was “no need for a Senate resolution” to declare “the deputy spokesperson of the Chinese embassy persona non grata” over the current word war between Philippine and Chinese officials.

“President Marcos can simply declare Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata… As Ambassador he bears responsibility for all the words and actions of the Chinese embassy.”

For emphasis, “Ji added that if anyone wanted to declare any Chinese diplomat persona non grata, please do include myself and the entire 12-member media affairs and public diplomacy team. As a team, we stay or leave together.”

“There is but one person who has the authority to ask Ambassador Jing to leave, and that is President Marcos Jr. If he were to receive such notice from President Marcos, he would depart immediately.”

“But he would do so with immense pride and honor, knowing that through his actions, he has fulfilled the firm commitment a Chinese diplomat makes to his country.”

How did the “all-talk acoustic war” between China and the Philippines end up as a potential diplomatic stand-off or worse, a possible break in diplomatic relations? Well, this is what happens when words fly, and people don’t think in terms of consequences.

When the media was informed about a pending Senate resolution declaring a Chinese embassy official as persona non grata, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said that before any such resolution is made, “the Senate should first study the facts of the matter and what started the whole thing.”

I was shocked to learn that several senators were already eager to sign a Senate resolution and announced the same even before the matter had been investigated or discussed. Apparently, some people don’t even do their homework.

Senate resolutions are not to be taken lightly like diploma mills. It is an official act of the Senate with official consequences. Neither are declarations from Malacañang that are diplomatically confrontational.

I humbly suggest to members of the Senate and Congress and especially Malacañang to engage the services or ask for help from seasoned diplomats and experts on regional affairs and real experts on media and communications because, to quote from the movie “Easy Rider,” “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”

For the longest time, we have heard Filipino individuals and organizations protest, curse and accuse China and Chinese vessels for trespassing, harassment and water cannon attacks.

But why did things heat up drastically? China just appointed a new ambassador, they “rescued” Filipino sailors and fishermen on two occasions, hoping against hope these could have signaled the “winds of change” on the Chinese side.

But instead of acknowledgement, they were accused by military officials of “staging” the rescue or wanting recognition in spite of their many attacks.

In an earlier column, I wrote about how Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard used insulting or derogatory caricature photos of Chinese President Xi Jinping. I learned that the attack on Xi Jinping made sparks fly among Chinese embassy officials.

From what I understand, there is a rule in the diplomatic corps, that heads of state are exempt from direct or malicious attacks. If Tarriela were just an online influencer, it could be overlooked.

The problem was that Tarriela has the rank of “Commodore” of the Philippine Coast Guard and spokesperson of the PCG. The tension could have stopped if no one added fuel to the fire. Unfortunately, Malacañang stepped in and declared its position on the matter:

“Whenever government agencies, head of agencies, act in accordance with the law and with our advocacy to defend the rights and interests of the country, then they have the support of the President.”

That statement officially sanctioned the pronouncements and actions of Tarriela. Any diplomat or student of international studies will tell you that it is equivalent to Malacañang or President Marcos Jr. directly disrespecting China’s Xi Jinping.

Was the statement a misdirection, diversionary ploy from all the scandals in government or was it a major miscalculation by Malacañang’s communications personnel? Who takes the blame for this?

The declaration from the Chinese embassy is presumably saying to PBBM, “Make your move.” The matter is no longer about Tarriela or about the proposed Senate resolution.

The buck is now on the table of President Marcos Jr. Will he have the wisdom and leadership to call everyone to the room and cool things down or will he remotely try to redirect this new crisis somewhere else?

Will he manifest statesmanship and ask the DFA and intermediaries to initiate dialogues so that words don’t lead to more word wars or wounds? If any or all Chinese diplomats vacate the premises, the country must bear the consequences diplomatically and economically, as we already are territorially. All because of words spoken carelessly.

Proverbs 12:18 in the Bible teaches us: “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

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