Asia-Pacific

Chinese Ambassador to Philippines Says China 'May Easily Win' Conflict

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Beijing and Manila are trading barbs after the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines suggested that China could easily win a conflict between the two countries, a remark that Philippine President Bongbong Marcos called "undiplomatic." 

China-Philippines Tensions

REPORTER:  
Tensions between Beijing and Manila are spiking. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan said that China “may easily win” in a conflict between the two countries. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr called the statements undiplomatic.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT):  
It sounds very much to me like a threat, and it is not a very diplomatic statement to be made. So we would perhaps like to understand what it is that he means.

The Chinese ambassador made the comments when asked by a journalist about Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro labelling China a troublemaker. After that interview, Manila's foreign affairs department released a statement calling Jing’s comments a thinly veiled threat. China’s embassy responded by calling on the foreign affairs department to play a more responsible role in making sure ties are not pushed to a dangerous place.