SENATORS Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Raffy Tulfo called for the recall or replacement of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan, saying the envoy’s statements have not helped ease tensions as disputes in the West Philippine Sea continue.
Ejercito said diplomats should work to improve relations with the host country, noting the Philippines and China have long-standing ties in trade, culture and economy.
“They’ve been very hostile against the people of our government. Sa aking pagkakaalam, dapat they are improving, trying to improve the relationship,” Ejercito said.
He said the envoy has been in the Philippines for less than two months but has already drawn strong reactions.
“He’s very hostile. It’s not improving our relationship with China na, damage na nga because of the situation in the West Philippine Sea right now. So, instead of dousing cold water to the fire, he’s adding fuel to the fire,” he said.
“So I think kung mas maganda, papalitan ng someone who is more diplomatic in dealing with the host country,” Ejercito added.
Ejercito stressed the Philippines should exhaust diplomatic options and does not seek war.
“We exhaust all diplomatic means. ’Yun naman tayo. We do not want war,” he said.
Speaking at a recent Kapihan sa Senado, Tulfo, for his part, rejected allegations in a Chinese Embassy statement that some senators were threatening or intimidating foreign embassies, saying he had not heard of any such threat.
“I haven’t heard of any senators threatening the Chinese embassies. Ewan ko baka katang-isip lang nila. Meron ba kayo sa media meron ba kayo narinig mula sa isang senador na binabantaan yung China?” Tulfo said.
Asked if a Senate resolution was meant to threaten the Chinese Embassy, Tulfo said, “No it’s not. The resolution is in no way a threat to any members of the Chinese embassy.”
Tulfo said tensions should be eased through talks involving both countries’ ambassadors, with the Department of Foreign Affairs involved, including discussions on protocols both sides should observe.
“I think the ambassador of the Philippines to China and the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines should sit down, involved siguro natin ang DFA, para pag-usapan kung ano ba talaga ang dapat gawin para ma-ease yung tension,” Tulfo said.
He also defended senators’ right to speak in plenary, saying lawmakers were voicing sentiments linked to fisherfolk and Philippine agencies amid reports of harassment at sea.
“Karapatan naman ng mga senador na express yung kanilang opinion, yung kalansalo opinion on behalf of the Filipino people,” Tulfo said.
“And yung mga senador naman para sa akin including myself, we’re just expressing the voice, the sentiments of the fisher folks na matagal na haras, matagal na nababantaan, na abuso, nabubuli,” he added, citing incidents including “Water Cannon.”
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