MANILA, Oct. 19 -- One sentence from Ambassador Jing Quan, "If we want to use force, we may easily win," got China's envoy to the Philippines summoned on Monday. Beijing replied the same day, pointing to "certain Philippine individuals."

Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro told Jing his statement was "provocative and unacceptable, and does not contribute to creating understanding," according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs account relayed by Anadolu Agency. The department said Manila "reserves the right to take further diplomatic action as it deems necessary."

Jing spoke on Thursday, October 15, on the sidelines of an event in Manila. He was answering Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who had called China a "tro...