Envoy says China could ‘easily win’ conflict as Manila claims it is ‘thinly veiled threat’

The Chinese ambassador to the Philippines says Beijing could “easily win” should it use force in the region but instead chooses peace, remarks that have drawn sharp criticism from Manila and calls for diplomatic restraint.

The war of words came as tension over the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea rises, with Beijing repeatedly driving away Philippine aircraft over the shoal in recent months, most recently about two weeks ago, while accusing Manila of violating Chinese...