Philippine Secretary Lazaro says China Ambassador’s statement was “provocative and unacceptable”

MANILA (Bloomberg): The Philippines said its top diplomat summoned China’s envoy to protest his remarks on the use of force amid their maritime dispute in the South China Sea. Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro on Monday called in Ambassador Jing Quan to express “strong objection” to his remarks last week that “conveyed a threat of the use of force,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Lazaro said Jing’s statement was “provocative and unacceptable” and aggravates an already sensitive bilateral atmosphere, it added. The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jing last week told…