MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will take the lead in addressing the latest diplomatic dispute between Manila and Beijing, with Malacañang awaiting the outcome of discussions involving Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan before determining whether President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will personally meet with the envoy.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Tuesday, October 20, that no meeting between Marcos and Jing has been scheduled, despite the President's earlier indication that he wanted clarification regarding the ambassador's controversial remarks about China's military capabilities.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro has already met with Jing after the DFA summoned the Chinese diplomat over his statements. However, the Palace has yet to receive a report detailing the discussion or the next steps.

Diplomatic row stems from remarks on military force

The controversy followed Jing's October 15 interview, during which he suggested that China could easily prevail in a military confrontation but maintained that Beijing would not choose to use force.

His statement drew criticism from Philippine officials, including Marcos, who questioned whether the ambassador's remarks amounted to a threat.

On October 16, the President described Jing's choice of words as inappropriate for a diplomat and expressed interest in understanding what the Chinese envoy intended to convey.

The DFA subsequently summoned Jing to address the remarks, which had heightened tensions between the two countries.

Palace says apology cannot be compelled

While the diplomatic discussions continue, Malacañang has declined to demand an apology from the Chinese ambassador.

Asked whether Jing should apologize, Castro said expressions of regret must be sincere and cannot be imposed on an individual.

She maintained that the matter should be handled through the DFA, rather than having the Palace preempt the outcome of the discussions.

The administration also reiterated its commitment to maintaining diplomatic relations with China despite the disagreement.

Marcos–Jing meeting remains undecided

Castro explained that Malacañang would wait for Lazaro's account of her discussion with the ambassador before providing further updates.

Although Marcos previously indicated that the remarks warranted a direct conversation, the Palace has not confirmed whether such a meeting will take place.

The government has also made no announcement regarding additional diplomatic measures arising from the incident.

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