Malacañang on Monday downplayed a recent meeting between First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, saying it did not reflect any shift in government policy or signal a change in the country’s diplomatic stance. Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the first lady’s presence at a public cultural event should not be interpreted as an official diplomatic engagement, amid renewed calls from some lawmakers to declare the Chinese envoy persona non grata. “First and foremost, if our first lady did attend public consular events, it does not reflect a policy direction and it is not linked to any diplomatic matters,” Castro said. Castro noted that lawmakers are aware that the authority to declare a diplomat persona non grata rests with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In a separate social media post, the Chinese Embassy said Jing had a “pleasant conversation” with the first lady during a one-night concert by Chinese pianist Lang Lang in Makati City. Asked whether Congress could still pursue a resolution declaring the envoy unwelcome, Castro said legislators are free to act within their mandate but reiterated the administration’s preference for diplomacy. “Each has their own opinion… they can pursue it if that is what they see,” she said. “But for the president, we know that the policy of the president and the DFA is good talk, diplomacy for such issues with the country of China.” Castro said the Palace had no details about the conversation between the first lady and the envoy, noting that no government officials were present at the event. The Palace said it hopes the cordial exchange could help ease tensions amid ongoing verbal disputes between Philippine officials and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea. Marcos has earlier rejected calls to declare Jing persona non grata, with the Department of Foreign Affairs stressing dialogue as the government’s preferred approach.
