MANILA, Philippines –  The safety and welfare of Filipinos living in China must be considered before the Philippine government takes stronger diplomatic action against Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, Malacañang said Wednesday, October 21.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro cautioned against making decisions driven by public anger, following mounting calls from lawmakers to declare Jing persona non grata over his controversial remarks about China's military capabilities.

Castro acknowledged the strong public reaction, saying Filipinos have legitimate reasons to defend the country's sovereignty and national interests. However, she stressed that any action against the Chinese envoy should also consider its possible consequences for Philippine nationals residing in China.

The Palace maintained that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains committed to protecting Philippine territory and maritime rights, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, while pursuing diplomatic measures that would not unnecessarily endanger Filipinos abroad.

Castro said the President would not interfere with lawmakers pursuing their respective resolutions but emphasized that the executive branch must carefully consider the implications of any diplomatic decision.

She added that the government would continue discussing measures to strengthen the country's defense capabilities and protect its maritime interests.

Palace raises separate concerns over alleged Chinese funding

Amid the dispute, Castro also urged the public not to lose sight of allegations involving possible Chinese funding linked to Vice President Sara Duterte.

She said the matter deserved further investigation because of its potential national security implications if the allegations were substantiated.

The Palace official raised concerns that the heated exchanges surrounding Jing could divert attention from determining whether foreign funds had reached businesses associated with the Vice President.

The allegations remain unproven and should not be treated as established evidence of foreign interference.

PBBM yet to announce meeting with ambassador

Castro also confirmed that Marcos had made no official announcement regarding a possible meeting with Jing.

The President previously described the ambassador's remarks as threatening, while Malacañang indicated that he was not inclined to expel the Chinese diplomat.

Meanwhile, the Palace said the government would continue evaluating the appropriate diplomatic response while safeguarding Philippine sovereignty and considering the interests of Filipinos who could be affected by further tensions with China.

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