TOKYO, Japan---While President Marcos said he could be "upset" over Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian's behavior, there was not going to be any move from his end to recall him.

Marcos said it will not serve any purpose for the Philippines to overreact on this matter.

He further said that he understood Xilian's approach on the issues concerning the West Philippine Sea as he was only doing his job.

"Well he is the ambassador of China so he will always take the Chinese position," Marcos said in an interview with Manila-based reporters on Monday, Dec. 18.

"Again kung siguro ako personally ang pinag-uusapan (personally) maybe I'll be upset but you are not talking about me you are talking about the Philippines, it does not serve any purpose for us to lose our temper or overreact," he said.
The President said the most he can do is to make it known to Beijing the behavior of Huang, which has prompted calls for him to be recalled from his diplomatic post.

He also said that it was beyond his power as President to dictate Huang's take on issues as the latter would always state his country's narrative.

"So kung yun ang gustong ibigay sa atin ng ambassador ng China e wala naman tayo, di naman sa atin. I mean kung talagang objectionable siya, (If he's who China wants to send to the Philippines as an ambassador, we cannot do anything about it. I mean if he really is objectionable), you can make it known to Beijing but I think Ambassador Huang is just doing his job he is just doing his job," Marcos said. 

"He is continuing to state the Chinese narrative, of course, we won't agree with that narrative but I cannot see him doing anything else so we just keep trying," Marcos added.

He further said that even if China appoints a new ambassador, their narrative on the issues in the West Philippine Sea would continue.

"Because the truth of the matter is kahit mapalitan na si Ambassador Huang, pareho pa rin ang sasabhin ng susunod na ambassador, dahil yun ang linya ng China so hindi nila ititigil 'yan (even if Ambassador Huang would be reprimanded, the next ambassador would still day the same, because that's the line of China, so they won't really stop)," the Chief Executive said.

This is why, he added, the Philippines must have to work around it and "cannot overreact" as "we don't want to go anywhere near that situation."
The Chief Executive, however, hoped Huang's manner of asserting China's position would be less confrontational and would rather talk about it over the table.

"Yes, of course, I wish we could talk about it over the table as opposed to colliding with each other's ship 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," Marcos said when as if he wanted Huang's manner of asserting position be different.