DFA: Marcos ‘firmly’ told Chinese envoy of PH protest over Navy assault

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had already conveyed to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan the Philippines’ protest against the assault of a member of the Philippine Navy, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Wednesday.

Marcos met with Jing on Tuesday in what the latter described as a “constructive” meeting after a member of the Chinese Coast Guard hit a Filipino Navy member with a wooden stick at Ayungin Shoal.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. already summoned Ambassador Jing Quan yesterday, and he firmly conveyed the Philippines’ protest over the violent actions against Filipino Navy personnel,” DFA spokesperson for maritime affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr. said in a text message to the media.

READ: Chinese envoy reports ‘constructive’ meeting with Marcos

However, Jing said the meeting was “not a kind of diplomatic protest.” Instead, the two had “an in-depth exchange of views.” 

Jing also shared that other matters in the bilateral relations between the two countries, outside of the incident, were discussed.

Malacañang has yet to announce the outcome of the meeting. /mcm