warned China to be carefulwhen making statements about the
Philippines. And he said it loud and clear, inMandarin Chinese, "Xiao
xin yi dian!"
"Can I say to the Chinese 'xiao xin yi dian?' Be a little careful
about your statements," Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing. He
was reacting to a question about a commentary published in China's
state newspaper the People's Daily denouncing the Philippine
provocation to ask for US spy plane deployment in the South China Sea.
He explained that President Benigno Aquino III's remarks were taken
out of context and misinterpreted by the Chinese side and that "we
don't view it as a provocative statement."
"By no stretch of the imagination can you consider the Philippines
anaggressor," Lacierda added.
Lacierda has Chinese blood and can speak Mandarin fluently. His
'Xiaoxin yi dian' warning was, by no means, made to show off his
language skills. But it has become a talking point both in the
Philippines and China.
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