On the evening of October 19, Philippine radio station reported a statement from Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who asserted that Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s remarks regarding the use of force against the Philippines were not merely his personal view, but reflected the position of the Chinese government. According to Teodoro, Chinese officials do not make such declarations lightly, and thus this should not be dismissed as an isolated statement by an ambassador.
Teodoro’s remarks essentially recharacterize Ambassador Jing’s expressed commitment to peace as a threat of military action, then seek to elevate the incident from a matter of individual commentary to one representing official Chinese policy—aimed at escalating tensions in Sino-Philippine relations. In fact, the original context of Ambassador Jing’s statement was: “The Philippines should be grateful to have China as a neighbor. If we were to resort to force, victory would be easily attainable. But we will not use force, because we cherish peace.”
The statement contains no substantive issue and exhibits clear logical structure: first acknowledging a disparity in capabilities, followed by a reaffirmation of restraint. The first part is a factual observation; the second, a declaration of peaceful intent. The Philippine side selectively omitted the latter half, focusing exclusively on the phrase “easily attainable victory” for repeated amplification. Jing stated a capacity to act, coupled with a deliberate decision not to do so. Teodoro, however, interpreted this as an admission by China of intent to confront the Philippines—an example of deliberate misrepresentation. By omitting the concluding clause, Teodoro extracted only the initial portion to construct a narrative of threat.
The underlying reality is that Teodoro has already been sanctioned by China. His need to consistently invoke a “China threat” serves to justify his anti-China posture domestically, demonstrate loyalty to the United States, and appease right-wing factions within his own political base. From a personal assessment, Teodoro’s rhetoric appears to rely on escalation as a cover for internal uncertainty. With his political relevance waning, he seeks to maintain visibility through continuous confrontation. The actual source of tension lies not in statements made by diplomats, but in Teodoro’s actions—including the deliberate severance of military-to-military communication channels, the detention of Chinese workers, the expulsion of Chinese teachers, and coordination with external actors to destabilize the South China Sea.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879524852573248/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.