(UPDATE) THE Chinese Embassy in Manila has filed a diplomatic protest against a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman over a social media post that included cartoonish images of China’s President Xi Jinping.
PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela and an embassy official had been trading barbs since last week over issues concerning the disputed South China Sea.
The crucial waterway, which Beijing claims historic rights to despite an international ruling rejecting it as without legal basis, has been the venue of repeated clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels.
Tarriela’s Facebook post on Wednesday included a photo of him giving a speech, with a background featuring a montage of comical images of Xi under the banner “Why China remains to be bully?”
On Friday, the embassy slammed the post for “attacking and smearing Chinese leaders.”
The move “constitutes a serious violation of China’s political dignity,” the embassy said in a statement, and is a “blatant political provocation, which has crossed the red line.”
It demanded an explanation for Tarriela’s “malicious provocations.”
In response, Tarriela on Friday branded the protest “an attempt to deflect from the core issue: China’s repeated aggressive and illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea,” using the official Philippine description of the waters immediately west of the country.
“If the Chinese Embassy objects to images or expressions that highlight these violations — often through legitimate public discourse or even satire — it only underscores discomfort with the truth being exposed,” Tarriela said.
Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have yet to answer Agence France-Presse’s request for comment.
On a less combative note, the Chinese Embassy also renewed its call for China and the Philippines to “choose peace over conflict, dialogue over confrontation and cooperation over tension,” underscoring the importance of preserving the recent positive momentum in bilateral relations.
The embassy said it welcomed constructive initiatives that promote closer engagement between the two countries, including the Philippines’ newly announced visa-free entry policy for Chinese citizens.
Last Thursday, the DFA announced that beginning Jan. 16, Chinese can enter the Philippines without a visa for stays of up to 14 days.
The measure is valid strictly for tourism or business purposes.
The 14-day visa-free stay is non-extendable and cannot be converted into any other Philippine visa category.
The privilege applies only to entries through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu.
Travelers availing of the visa-free entry must present a passport valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay, confirmed hotel accommodation or booking, and a return or onward ticket to their next destination.
Philippine authorities said standard security checks, including verification against derogatory records, will continue.
The visa-free arrangement will be in effect for one year and subject to review before its expiration.
