Chinese envoy warns Philippines 'we may easily win' war as Manila calls remarks a 'thinly veiled threat'

Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr described comments from Chinese ambassador Jing Quan as sounding "very much like a threat" after the diplomat told a Quezon City college forum that Beijing could easily prevail militarily but chose peace. The foreign ministry condemned the remarks as "a poor choice of words" amid already deteriorating relations over South China Sea disputes. Tensions between China and the Philippines in those disputed waters have at times turned violent.