China has appointed seasoned diplomat Jing Quan as its ambassador to the Philippines, with his arrival in Manila coinciding with heightened South China Sea tensions. The Philippines is drawing closer to Washington on defense matters. Jing vowed to safeguard China's interests while bridging bilateral relations.
Jing Quan, a seasoned diplomat known as an 'America hand,' has been appointed as China's ambassador to the Philippines. He arrived in Manila amid flaring tensions in the South China Sea, as the Philippines strengthens defense ties with Washington. The US deployed a Typhon missile system in the northern Philippines during a joint exercise last year, and it has remained in place, capable of covering the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea from its position.
Upon arrival, Jing was quoted as saying: “As the ambassador, I will firmly safeguard China’s national interests and dignity, while also serving as a bridge to ensure China-Philippines relations stabilise rather than deteriorate, and that our peoples draw closer instead of drifting apart,” according to an embassy social media account. “The task is heavy, but I am confident.”
Clashes between China and the Philippines have heightened the risk of a broader conflict that could draw in the United States, Manila's treaty ally under the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty. China has repeatedly warned of the growing American military presence in the South China Sea and Washington's closer defense ties with the Philippines.
This appointment comes as Beijing seeks to stabilize relations through an experienced envoy. Jing previously served at the Chinese embassy in Washington, bringing expertise in handling US-Philippines affairs.