The Philippine municipality of Kalayaan has declared Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata over remarks criticizing Filipino officials defending the country’s maritime claims.
The Sangguniang Bayan accused Jing of violating diplomatic protocol by demanding accountability for Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela’s transparency efforts in the West Philippine Sea.
Kalayaan, with a population of just 406 on Pag-asa Island, claims jurisdiction over several disputed features in the Spratly Islands.
This is the second time the municipality has taken such action, following a similar declaration against former ambassador Huang Xilian in 2023.
The resolution condemned what it called “wolf warrior diplomacy,” while the Chinese embassy has continued to assert its nine-dash line claims and filed diplomatic protests over Tarriela’s social media posts.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 30, 2026
