THE Chinese Embassy in Manila on Thursday strongly criticized a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official for issuing statements which it said heightened tensions in the South China Sea.
The embassy accused Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman, of fabricating stories, spreading hostility, and openly attacking China’s leadership.
“Is Jay Tarriela a publicly elected official?” the embassy said. “Official spokespersons are required to defend their countries by articulating official positions and sharing facts and truth. Fabricating stories, telling lies, stirring up hostility, openly smearing and attacking the leader of another country is NOT defending the country.” The embassy’s statement was in response to the Jan. 21 pronouncement of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which affirmed support for “publicly elected officials and government institutions performing their lawful duties in defense of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.” The embassy stressed that China remains committed to resolving disputes through diplomatic channels, but warned that diplomacy is undermined by what it described as “lies and hatred” spread by individuals claiming to speak for the Philippines.
It also reaffirmed Beijing’s long-standing rejection of the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea, which was initiated by the Philippines, saying it was “illegal, null and void,” and has “no binding force.” While the DFA did not directly address the embassy’s criticisms of individual officials, it emphasized that differences between states are “best addressed through established diplomatic channels,” signaling a preference for formal state-to-state engagement rather than public exchanges.
The exchange reflects the strains in Philippine-China relations as incidents involving coast guard patrols, resupply missions and maritime encounters persist in areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Under the Marcos administration, Manila has taken a more assertive posture in defending its maritime claims, including regular briefings by uniformed officials, and the release of photos and videos of encounters at sea.
China, meanwhile, has accused the Philippines of “hyping” incidents and internationalizing the dispute.
On Wednesday, opposition parties denounced China for warning Philippine officials to stop their criticisms or “pay the price.” In a statement, the Liberal Party and the Akbayan and Mamamayang Liberal party-lists said no state has the right to “threaten officials of a sovereign country about verified developments within their own maritime domain.”
“Statements made by Philippine personnel regarding incidents in the West Philippine Sea are grounded in documented events, conveyed in the exercise of official duty and consistent with international law, including the binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” the parties said.
“Labeling transparency as ‘provocation’ is a cynical attempt to fool the international community. Truth-telling does not escalate tensions; China’s illegal incursions, aggressive maneuvers and open threats do,” they said.