Marcos says no need to expel Huang: ‘Ambassador will always take China’s position’

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Monday that there is no need to expel Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian amid calls to send the envoy back home. 

''He’s the Ambassador of China. So, he will always take the Chinese position. Again, kung siguro akong personally pinag-uusapan, maybe I’ll be upset. But you’re talking about me, we’re talking about the Philippines,” Marcos during a press conference in Japan, where he attended the ASEAN-Japan Summit.

More lawmakers have supported the call to have Huang sent home, following the latest attacks against Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea. The President reasoned that as ambassador, Huang would always take Beijing's position as part of his job.

“That doesn’t serve any purpose for us to lose our temper or to overreact. So, kung ‘yan ang gustong ibigay sa atin na Ambassador ng China eh wala naman—hindi naman sa atin, I mean kung talagang objectionable siya, you can make it known to Beijing. But I don’t—I think Ambassador Huang is just doing his job,'' he added. 

Marcos pointed out that Huang’s job is to continue stating the Chinese narrative when it comes to the issues in the South China Sea, noting that the Philippines will also continue exerting efforts to address the challenges in the region.

He said replacing Huang with a new envoy would not change a thing as a replacement will continue to echo China’s position.

“So, hindi nila ititigil ‘yan. So, we have to, that’s why we have to work around it. We cannot overreact on this. Sasabihin mo, ‘yung iba nga napipikon, saasabihing, hindi naman tungkol sa atin ito, tungkol sa Pilipinas ito. Eh kung magkamali tayo, e di malaking gulo. So, we don’t want to go anywhere near that situation,” Marcos said.

Meanwhile, asked if he wanted different approach against China, the President said he is willing to sit for negotiations to resolve the issue.

“Of course, I wish we talked about it over the table as supposed to colliding with each other’s ships in the open sea. Of course, I will prefer the less confrontational method of trying to decide these things. But it is what it is,” he said. — BM, GMA Integrated News