Defense reporters to China embassy: Words have consequences

MANILA, Philippines — After a week of testy exchanges between Philippine officials and the Chinese Embassy in Manila, journalists covering the country’s defense beat are pushing back against being dragged into the blame game.

The Defense Press Corps of the Philippines on Sunday, October 18, rejected the Chinese Embassy in Manila's claim that Filipino reporters "exaggerate" and "take things out of context."

The group emphasized that its members quoted Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan verbatim when he said China could "easily win if it used force" against the Philippines, and that the political fallout from his words “is neither within the control nor the responsibility of journalists.”

“Some Philippine politicians and reporters have very limited comprehension about facts,” the embassy said in a Facebook post on Saturday, October 17. “But they are good at exaggeration, taking things out of context, and creating hype.”

The post did not name any journalist or news organization, or point to a specific report.

It came two days after Jing told reporters on the sidelines of a forum at Diliman College in Quezon City: “If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not use force. You know, we love peace.”

The DPC, whose members cover the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the embassy’s target and intent was clear.

“While the embassy’s statement did not specifically name the DPC, we, along with journalists covering the West Philippine Sea and relations between the two countries, can clearly discern its disparaging intent,” the group said.

‘Words have consequences’

The DPC turned a familiar warning by the Chinese government back on the embassy.

“Words have consequences. Every statement issued and every interview given carries consequences, whether intended or not,” the group said. “We are often reminded of this principle when the Chinese side issues radio challenges within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone: ‘You bear the responsibility for whatever consequences of your actions.’”

The group said Filipino reporters regularly travel by sea and air to the West Philippine Sea, where they have witnessed and experienced Chinese aggression. At the same time, it said, they have consistently sought China’s side on water cannon attacks, collisions and new remarks from Philippine officials “in the spirit of fair play and balanced reporting.”

“It must be difficult for a country without a free press to understand the dynamics of journalistic independence and editorial judgment exercised without state control or oversight,” the DPC said. “We understand. Not all journalists are as fortunate as those who live and work in a true, albeit imperfect, democracy.”

Invoking Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, which obliges states to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, the group said true peace requires space for mutual understanding — “something that cannot be achieved if China continues to shoot at the messengers.”

A widening row

The embassy’s post followed days of public sparring with Philippine officials, chiefly Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

On Wednesday, October 14, Teodoro rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s description of the Philippines as Southeast Asia’s “troublemaker,” saying, “China alone is the troublemaker here.”

The embassy responded by branding Teodoro the “real troublemaker” and accusing him of smearing China.

Jing’s remark came the next day, when reporters asked him about Teodoro’s statement, which he called “nonsense.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the ambassador “had a poor choice of words that would seem to convey a thinly veiled threat of the use of force.” In turn, the embassy accused the department of “selective quotation and overinterpretation.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday, October 16, that Jing’s statement “sounds very much to me like a threat” and that he would summon the envoy.