MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ng Embahada ng China sa Pilipinas noong Huwebes na patuloy nitong “ipagtatanggol ang reputasyon ng China” kasunod ng panukala ng ilang mambabatas na ideklara ang isang opisyal ng embahada bilang “persona non grata.”
Iminungkahi ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III na ideklara si Chinese Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei na hindi katanggap-tanggap matapos ang kaniyang mga pahayag laban sa ilang mambabatas.
Ayon kay Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Ji Lingpeng, “there is no need to go through such trouble,” at maaari namang ideklara ng mga mambabatas si Ambassador Jing Quan bilang “persona non grata” dahil “he bears responsibility for all words and actions of the Chinese Embassy.”
Binanggit ni Ji ang mahabang karanasan ng ambassador sa US affairs at sa pagharap sa “hundreds of anti-China bills or resolutions.”
“Throughout all of this, Ambassador Jing never blinked his eyes, steadfastly defending China’s interests and dignity because this is the duty and responsibility of a diplomat,” ani Ji.
Dagdag niya, tanging Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lamang ang may kapangyarihang hilingin ang pag-alis ng ambassador, at siya ay “depart immediately” kung utusan.
Sinabi rin niya na anumang persona non grata declaration ay dapat “include myself and the entire 12-member media affairs and public diplomacy team,” at ang koponan ay kikilos nang sabay.
“As a team, we stay or leave, together. That said, rest assured that even if the embassy were to be closed, we would continue, without hesitation, to push back slanders and smears against China through various channels,” dagdag niya.
“This is the most basic duty of Chinese diplomats. If a diplomat cannot even do that, then what is the point of having diplomats at all?,” giit pa ni Ji.
Ang pahayag ay ipinalabas habang nagpapatuloy ang tensyon sa pinag-aagawang South China Sea, kung saan nagkakaroon ng paulit-ulit na sagupaan ang mga barko ng China at Pilipinas sa kabila ng international ruling na walang legal na basehan ang historical claims ng China. Dave Baluyot
