China to Ridon: Why not suggest closing the entire embassy?

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"Why not suggest closing the entire embassy?"

This was the response of the Chinese Embassy in Manila to Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon's statement urging the Philippine government to deport lower-ranking Chinese diplomatic personnel.

Posted on Wednesday, the Chinese embassy reacted to Ridon's remarks after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan for claiming that China would "easily win" if it resorted to force in the West Philippine Sea.

"So 'yun ang maganda pag-aralan ng DFA at ng ating Pangulo. Kung hindi po papaalsin po 'yung embahador, 'yung po ang mga lesser diplomats na lang po 'yung palayasin, particularly because nag-usap na kahapon, marami pa rin ho silang sinasabi hanggang ngayon," Ridon said in a press conference.

(That is something for the DFA and our President to consider. If the ambassador is not expelled, then the lower-ranking diplomats could be expelled instead, particularly because they already had a discussion yesterday, yet they are still making statements about it up to now.)

DFA had summoned Jing Quan to convey the Philippines' "serious concern and strong objection" to his recent remarks.

"It is not the place of a foreign mission to publicly criticize or taunt Philippine officials and legislators who are acting within their mandates. As a democracy, the Philippines values freedom of expression and a plurality of voices, and it will not accept attempts by a foreign envoy to intimidate those who exercise them," DFA said.

On Saturday, the Chinese Embassy released a statement amid talks of possibly declaring Jing persona non grata after his remarks were perceived by some lawmakers as "threats" against the Philippines.

"Some senators and house representatives are talking about declaring the Chinese ambassador persona non grata. Is this threat or coercion?" the Chinese Embassy said in a social media post.

"But anyway, just do it. Otherwise, STOP BLUFFING," it added.

In a separate social media post on Wednesday, the Chinese embassy described the statement of Senator Kiko Pangilinan as "thuggish, hooligan-style language," after the senator urged President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to send Jing back to China.

"Mr. President if you can send Duterte, Quiboloy and Romualdez to jail, declare POGO illegal and have them shutdown, assert our sovereignty against Chinese aggression then you can most certainly send this arrogant, insulting, crude and insolent alien back to his country of origin," Pangilinan said.

"Using thuggish, hooligan-style language to launch personal attacks on others—is this the calibre and standards of a Philippine senator? Is this the diplomacy and prudence that the DFA claims to uphold?" the Chinese Embassy said in response to the senator's post.

Earlier this year, Marcos rejected calls to declare Jing persona non grata amid calls from legislators to expel some Chinese embassy officials over the West Philippine Sea row.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has refused to recognize the decision. — VDV, GMA News