The Department of Foreign Affairs summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan on Monday over his remark that China 'may easily win' in a confrontation in the West Philippine Sea. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro took the meeting and conveyed the Philippines' objection to the envoy's public statements. Calling in a sitting ambassador over what he has said is an uncommon step, which shows how badly the comment went down in Manila. Beijing claims most of the disputed waterway, and the remark was widely read as a warning aimed at the Philippines. The DFA has already taken a hard public line on the envoy's statements, and the summons turned that objection into a formal act. Both countries have faced off repeatedly over shoals and fishing grounds in recent months. For now, Manila's response stays inside diplomatic channels, even as louder voices elsewhere in government push for tougher measures.