The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement criticizing Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan's remarks as a poor choice of words conveying a thinly veiled threat of force that harms bilateral relations.

From the articlePhilippines protests Chinese envoy’s remarks, calling them a ‘thinly veiled threat’Also in China says it ‘may easily win’ war with Philippines but insists it ‘loves peace’, China says can ‘easily win’ confrontation with Philippines