Philippines, explained.
Protesters rally in front of the Chinese consulate in Manila in 2025 calling for environmental reparations over the South China Sea dispute (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images)
China wants the Philippines to tell a better story about their ties – it must give Filipinos one first.
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Words as weapons in the West Philippine SeaWords as weapons in the West Philippine Sea
China wants more good news about its relationship with the Philippines. Its ambassador, Jing Quan, said in his keynote (Opens in new window) at a recent forum promoting Philippines and China ties that maritime disputes should not define the entirety of bilateral relations and that positive developments deserve greater attention.
These are maybe reasonable points in principle. Manila and Beijing have interests that go beyond their maritime disputes, from trade and investment to tourism, education and cultural exchanges.
But positive relations cannot be built on better messaging alone. Before asking the Philippines to tell a more favourable story about China, Beijing must give Filipinos compelling reasons to believe it.
Jing’s statement that China could “easily win (Opens in new window)” by force in its maritime disputes but chooses peace illustrates the problem. “But no, we will not choose to use force. We love peace,” he told reporters later on the sidelines of the same forum called Diliman Dialogues. “In this region, we enjoy peace. Look at other regions: Ukraine, Gaza and even Venezuela.”
His comments came a day after Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro labelled China as a “troublemaker (Opens in new window)” in the region.
Did Jing mean to emphasise restraint? It was a poor choice of words, especially against the backdrop of recurring tensions in the West Philippine Sea. No less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said (Opens in new window) it “sounds very much to me like a threat, and it is not a very diplomatic statement to make.” Jing was subsequently summoned by the Philippine Foreign Ministry to hear its “serious concern and strong objection (Opens in new window)”.
Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro with China's Ambassador Jing Quan in May (@SecLazaro/X)
Peace should not be portrayed as a favour that China extends to the Philippines, and to the entire region, because it chooses not to use its military might. It should be a mutual commitment grounded in respect for sovereignty, international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Instead of being apologetic about the issue, the Chinese embassy social media accounts even turned combative, warning (Opens in new window) Philippine leaders and even journalists whom they regard as anti-China. (Opens in new window) Since Jing took office in December, the embassy’s social media pages not only increased in online activity but adopted a more assertive stance – blending traditional diplomatic messaging with sharper, more direct responses to critics.
Philippine officials have a responsibility to defend the country's interests and speak out when they believe its sovereignty or security is threatened. They should not feel obliged to temper legitimate concerns merely to protect the appearance of harmonious relations.
Peace should not be portrayed as a favour that China extends to the Philippines.
Jing called for more positive stories about Philippine-China relations to “offset” the bad news online. He argued that people-to-people and cultural exchanges could help counter negative narratives circulating on social media, adding that visiting another country allows people to form their own impressions based on firsthand experiences, which they can then share with friends and online communities. Such exchanges, Jing pointed out, could encourage more travel between the two countries and gradually reduce misunderstandings. There is indeed more to the relationship than the West Philippine Sea.
But Philippine officials and the media cannot be expected to downplay troubling incidents at sea to preserve a favourable atmosphere. Nor should Filipinos be asked to compartmentalise their concerns about maritime security as though these had little bearing on their overall perception of China. The West Philippine Sea may not represent the entirety of bilateral relations, but it is hardly a peripheral issue for a country whose sovereignty, economic interests, and fishing communities are affected by developments there.
China has every right to explain its policies and tout its achievements. It cannot, however, expect its preferred narrative to prevail simply because it asks for more positive coverage. Blaming Teodoro for “provocations (Opens in new window)” or Philippines politicians for “irresponsible behaviour (Opens in new window)” is a distraction. A country’s international reputation is shaped not only by its official statements but also by the experiences of those who encounter its actions.
If China wants the Philippines to tell a better story about their relationship, it must first give Filipinos a better story to tell. Peace is not proved by declaring a preference for it, and friendship is not built by telling its neighbour to be grateful because it chooses not to use its military strength.
About the author
Frances Mangosing
Frances Mangosing is a Manila-based freelance journalist covering national security and foreign affairs.
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