China to open Fujian-Cebu direct flights in March

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February 15, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan announced on Friday night the opening of direct flights between Cebu and Fujian meant to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Jing made the announcement at the official launch of the Chinatown Revitalization Phase II at the Hotel Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, Manila attended by President Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos.

The new direct flight, which will commence on March 29, comes as Chinese embassy officials continue to engage in a word war with Filipino officials over the West Philippine Sea issue.

“I thank you very much for the good news that you have brought about the flights going to Cebu,” the President told the Chinese envoy.

“And I hope that it will be the beginning of more interactions and people-to-people exchange between China and the Philippines,” the President added.

The ambassador said Cebu residents requested to open direct flights between Cebu and Fujian “because 90 percent of Filipino-Chinese, they’re from Fujian, and Chinese tourists can directly come to Cebu visa-free.”

The Chinese envoy said the first flight will depart on March 29, with two flights each week.

“If there are more tourists coming, then we will increase more,” he said.

The ambassador also announced that “because more Chinese tourists are coming back also to Manila,” China has agreed to add two more direct flights between Manila and Fujian.

“We also hope to further strengthen our law enforcement cooperation with the Philippine side to jointly fight against crime and to ensure the safety for normal people-to-people exchanges,” Jing said.

Earlier, Marcos rejected calls to declare the Chinese envoy persona non grata or an unwelcome person in the face of the Chinese embassy’s verbal jabs with Philippine officials on the WPS.