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Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte welcomes Jing Quan, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines, on Monday, January 26, in Davao City. Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte/Facebook

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Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte welcomes Jing Quan

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769584187828622425655_1449546849876612_8407773047187186838_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte welcomes Jing Quan, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines, on Monday, January 26, in Davao City. <em>Mayor Sebastian &quot;Baste&quot; Duterte/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday declined to comment on Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan amid Beijing’s recent criticisms of Manila’s consistent position on China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>Communication Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters that the Palace will be silent on the matter.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/27/sotto-floats-idea-of-declaring-chinese-diplomat-persona-non-grata-1820">Sotto floats idea of declaring Chinese diplomat persona non grata</a></div><p>“May kasabihan nga tayo ‘no ‘buntot niya, hila niya.’ Kung ano pong ginagawa niya consequence niya po,” she said.</p><p>“Wala pong magagawa ang Pangulo sa anumang ginagawa ng anumang mayor provided naman ito ay hindi labag sa batas,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/28/chinese-embassy-claims-tarriela-attacking-and-smearing-china-0105">Chinese embassy claims Tarriela ‘attacking and smearing’ China</a></div><p>In a social media post, Duterte said that the Chinese envoy spent 2 days in Davao City “to strengthen bilateral relations and local-level cooperation.”</p><p>Duterte’s meeting with the Chinese envoy comes days after the Marcos Jr. administration stood firm that it will stand by the statements of all Filipino officials defending the Philippines’ sovereignty against Asia’s largest economy.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/26/-pinaka-kontrabida-hontiveros-blasts-china-anew-over-wps-claims-1836">&#x27;Pinaka kontrabida!&#x27; Hontiveros blasts China anew over WPS claims</a></div><p>Before meeting the Davao City Mayor, the Chinese ambassador also met with Duterte ally and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, saying that the envoy “reiterated China&#x27;s support for the Philippines’ independent foreign policy” and “that relations should not be viewed as a zero-sum choice between China and the United States.”</p><p>Mayor Duterte is president of the Partido Demokratiko Plipino — sometimes still called by its old name, PDP-Laban.</p><p>PDP has party-to-party relations with the Communist Party of China and has sent representatives to China for training.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/25/ph-pushes-back-as-china-s-wolf-warrior-rhetoric-targets-officials-1422">PH pushes back as China’s ‘Wolf-Warrior’ rhetoric targets officials</a></div><p>It is not uncommon for diplomats, from China and from other nations, to meet with politicians and groups in their host country.</p><p>Davao City is not the only local government unit that Chinese diplomats have visited, either.</p><p>According to the website of China&#x27;s Foreign Ministry, consular officials also had meetings with officials in Cebu, La Union and Ilocos Norte in 2025.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/24/wrap-what-do-they-mean-when-they-talk-about-pro-china-candidates-1330">What do they mean when they talk about ‘Pro-China’ candidates?<br/></a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aqhAkPXw6Kw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b-bjPtxYPJA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Malacañang on Wednesday declined to comment on Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan amid Beijing’s recent criticisms against Manila’s consistent position on China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

Malacañang on Wednesday declined to comment on Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan amid Beijing’s recent criticisms against Manila’s consistent position on China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

Palace declines to comment on Baste Duterte's meeting with Chinese envoy

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Palace declines to comment on Baste Duterte's meeting with Chinese envoy

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 28, 2026 03:46 PM PHT

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Updated January 28, 2026 04:17 PM PHT

Read More:

Sebastian Duterte

China

Davao City

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