MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has firmly rejected calls to declare Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata, even as tensions persist over the West Philippine Sea dispute.
The President’s stance was clarified by Malacañang press officer Claire Castro on Friday, January 30, 2026, following a week of heightened friction between the Chinese diplomat and several Philippine officials.
Rejection of Diplomatic Sanctions According to Castro, the President gave a decisive “no” when asked about the proposal recently floated by lawmakers and local government units.
- Senate Disapproval: On Monday, 15 senators signed a resolution introduced by Senator Risa Hontiveros expressing disapproval of Ambassador Jing’s public statements, which they described as violating principles of “mutual respect and noninterference.”
- Kalayaan Local Action: On Wednesday, the municipal council of Kalayaan, Palawan, approved a resolution declaring Jing persona non grata for alleged diplomatic protocol violations.
- Marcos’ Stance: Despite these actions, the President opposes official diplomatic censure at the executive level, aligning with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)’s warning that such a move could trigger countermeasures harmful to the country’s strategic interests.
Resumption of Maritime Dialogue In a parallel development, formal bilateral talks between Manila and Beijing resumed in Cebu this week after a hiatus of more than a year.
- High-Level Meeting: DFA Undersecretary Leo Herrera Lim met with Chinese Director Hou Yanqi on the sidelines of the Philippine-chaired ASEAN ministers’ meeting.
- Code of Conduct (COC): Both sides underscored the importance of sustained diplomatic dialogue and reiterated their commitment to finalizing the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea during the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship.
- Candid Exchanges: The Chinese Embassy described the meeting as a “candid and in-depth exchange of views” on maritime affairs and other mutual interests.
Ambassador Jing, who assumed his post in December 2025, recently expressed a commitment to accelerating COC negotiations, noting that consultations have become “more frequent and intensive” under the current ASEAN cycle.
By choosing dialogue over diplomatic expulsion, the Marcos administration appears to be prioritizing a “de-escalation through engagement” strategy as it navigates its leadership role within the ASEAN regional bloc in 2026.