Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan —Inquirer files
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines stands to suffer more than China from a further deterioration in bilateral relations, business and civic groups warned on Monday, urging Manila and Beijing to “lower the temperature” and prevent their diplomatic standoff from damaging trade, investment and jobs.
More than 20 business, labor and civic organizations called for a “resolute yet diplomatic” Philippine foreign policy that safeguards sovereignty without sacrificing economic cooperation.
“The Filipino people deserve a government that protects sovereignty while expanding prosperity,” the groups said in a joint statement.
“Constructive relations with China do not require abandoning Philippine sovereignty, overlooking legitimate concerns, or compromising an independent foreign policy.”
The appeal followed Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s remark in October that China could “easily win” a military confrontation with the Philippines but preferred a peaceful resolution.
The two governments have since traded accusations and sharp statements, while the Senate has considered declaring Jing persona non grata. They said sovereignty and economic pragmatism must go hand in hand.
The groups cautioned against “inflammatory rhetoric, public recriminations, and social media exchanges,” saying the economic consequences of a prolonged confrontation would be disproportionately felt by the Philippines.
China was the Philippines’ largest import source in 2025, supplying more than $38.22 billion in goods, and its fourth-largest export market, buying $9.3 billion in Philippine products. The Philippines accounted for only 0.3 percent to 0.5 percent of China’s global trade.
Signatories included the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., Federation of Philippine Industries, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., and Employers Confederation of the Philippines, as well as labor, OFW (overseas Filipino workers) and educators’ organizations.
Delay
Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Manila accused Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of delaying China’s invitation to the 13th Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), held in Cebu on Oct. 28 and 29, saying Beijing had fewer than five working days to prepare.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, the embassy said Manila sent the invitation on Oct. 22, later than invitations sent to other members in late September or early October. The letter, signed by a defense undersecretary, was undated and left China two days to register, it said.
Citing Teodoro’s Oct. 23 statement that China was notified the previous day, the embassy called preparations “virtually impossible” and accused him of disregarding ADMM-Plus principles. It did not identify the Asean countries that supposedly objected. The Department of National Defense (DND) had yet to comment.
Manila said Defense Undersecretary Ignacio Madriaga signed the invitation. DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong confirmed on Oct. 27 that it was sent, but said China had yet to confirm its delegates.
China sent its Manila defense attaché, Senior Capt. Yang Lei, instead of Defense Minister Dong Jun. Madriaga welcomed Yang, while Teodoro received other delegation heads. Teodoro said the undersecretary’s welcome was “more than courteous,” given the need for parity in rank.
“So it is China’s position, it is not Asean position,” he said.
Wrong ‘Teodoro’
Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, on Monday accused Jing of disinformation over stalled energy talks, saying the embassy had confused the defense chief with former Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.
The embassy said the talks had fallen through, adding that “if people like Teodoro had not sabotaged the process, we would have seen tangible results by now.”
Tarriela said Teodoro was not in government when the talks began, suggesting the embassy meant Locsin, then foreign secretary.
“Fake news again, Jing Quan! You got the wrong TEODORO!” Tarriela said on Facebook.
The Philippines and China signed a 2018 memorandum of understanding on joint offshore energy exploration. Locsin signed it; then President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the talks terminated in June 2022.
“What China and the Philippines signed in 2018 was a Memorandum of Understanding, not a framework agreement. It only committed both governments to negotiate,” Tarriela said.
“Both sides had gone as far as our Constitution allows, and one more step would have meant a constitutional crisis.”