Last week retired U.S. Air Force colonel Ray Powell published an article in The Manila Times. He made groundless accusations against the normal diplomatic work of the Chinese Embassy in Manila in an attempt to sow discord in China–Philippines relations. Projecting his own mindset onto others, Powell claimed that Chinese diplomats are playing a “good cop/bad cop” game to divide the Philippines. This claim is a typical case of political manipulation. If Powell insists on comparing Chinese diplomats to “policemen,” then Chinese diplomats would be duty-bound to expose bad behaviors of guys like Powell and make them nowhere to hide. Let us take a look at what Powell has actually been doing in recent years.
1. A habitual anti-China agitator.
According to incomplete statistics, since 2023 Powell has posted more than 6,000 social media messages related to the South China Sea, relentlessly attacking China. Not long ago he once again traveled all the way across the Pacific to the Philippines to attend seminars, give interviews, and publish articles. His mission? Demonizing anything related to China, from maritime issues to the local Chinese community, Chinese-language media, and Chinese-language education in the Philippines.
2. Promoting the so-called “maritime transparency initiative” to stir up tensions.
Powell boasted that the Philippines’ so-called “transparency initiative” was modeled on their ideas and has even become state policy. What happened in the so-called “transparency initiative” over the past three years is not documenting maritime facts, but deliberately creating or escalating frictions at sea to fabricate and amplify a false “China bullying” narrative. This approach fuels confrontation rather than dialogue. After years of such tactics, has it helped resolve disputes between China and the Philippines? Has it brought any benefit to the Filipino people? Definitely no. It has only served the interests of Powell and those of certain groups.
3. Smearing China’s united front work and driving wedges in China-Philippines relations.
Overseas Chinese communities naturally maintain emotional ties with China. The Chinese Embassy’s exchanges with various sectors in the Philippines are open and transparent, aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and promoting friendship. It is fully consistent with international law and practice. Viewing such interactions through a Cold War lens, Powell has distorted them as “united front infiltration” and labeled them as “interference.” This projection is neither objective nor responsible.
4. Defaming the Chinese community and inciting division.
The Chinese community in the Philippines has a history of over a thousand years and is deeply integrated into local society. Ignoring these facts, Powell deliberately portrays it as an overseas group “supported by the Chinese government.” His intent is obvious: to drive a wedge between Filipino-Chinese and the broader society and to incite suspicion and hostility. This resembles the introduction of McCarthyism into the Philippines. Filipino-Chinese communities have long contributed significantly to economic development and social progress. It is widely recognized across Philippine society. Such deep-rooted bonds cannot be easily severed.
5. Attacking Chinese-language media and threatening press freedom.
Powell’s attacks on Chinese-language media in the Philippines are particularly egregious. On January 22, 2026, he smeared the normal interactions between these media outlets and the Chinese Embassy, claiming the Embassy “controls” them and builds a “propaganda network.” In early February, he again singled out major Chinese language newspapers such as the World News and the Commercial News. His so-called “exposés” are in fact attempts to pressure and intimidate these outlets, seeking to silence voices that promote China–Philippines friendship. In response, Chinese-language media have spoken out, arguing that as a US citizen, Powell has no place meddling in bilateral relations and has done more harm than good. Such actions violate the principle of freedom of expression and amount to blatant bullying.
6. Targeting Chinese-language education and whitewashing aggression history of Japan.
Powell has also turned his criticism toward Chinese-language education in the Philippines. In March 2026, he falsely labeled it a tool of infiltration and attacked an essay competition organized by a Chinese education center, commemorating victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Chinese-language education has a long history in the Philippines and serves as a legitimate means of cultural preservation and friendship-building. The competition in question was open and transparent, approved by relevant Philippine authorities, and judged by respected local experts. The Philippine Department of Education has explicitly rejected claims that Philippine public schools are being used as platforms for foreign political influence. It is a strong statement refuting Powell’s baseless allegations.
Ray Powell tried to downplay the atrocities of Japanese military imperialists during the second world war in order to spin his narrative of “China exploiting Filipino children for its anti-Japan propaganda campaign”. In so doing he abandoned even basic moral conscience. During World War II, both China and the Philippines suffered grievously under Japanese militarism. In the Bataan Death March alone, about 2000 American POWs were killed by Japanese forces, alongside the 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties and victims of atrocities such as the Manila Massacre—facts that are beyond dispute. Powell’s attempt to whitewash the Japanese aggression during WWII not only desecrates history but also betrays the sacrifice of our fallen heroes including thousands of American soldiers.
7. Interfering in Philippine foreign affairs.
Powell also claimed that China seeks to make the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) the “sole legitimate voice” in foreign policy. China doesn’t need to do that. Republic Act No. 7157, otherwise known as the Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991, gives mandate to the DFA to implement the country’s foreign policy, not other government department or agencies. When Ray Powell point fingers at how the Philippines should approach its relationship with China, he clearly is trying to divide the Philippines government against itself.
Why is Powell doing this?
The answer is simple: as the South China Sea stabilized and China–Philippines relations showed signs of improvement recently, Powell and other anti-China forces became uneasy and spared no effort to disrupt this momentum.
Over the past four months, diplomatic dialogue, people-to-people exchanges, and law enforcement cooperation between China and the Philippines have made encouraging progress. Since January, officials from both foreign ministries have met monthly. On March 28, the 24th China–Philippines Foreign Ministry Consultation and the 11th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea were held in Quanzhou. Since the implementation of a visa-free policy last January Chinese tourists to the Philippines reached 120,000, up nearly 60% year-on-year. Direct flights have recovered to about 50% of pre-pandemic levels. Law enforcement cooperation has led to the repatriation of suspects involved in kidnapping, telecom fraud, and human trafficking. These tangible results are achieved through continuous dialogue and cooperation.
However, Powell and his likes do not wish to see improved relations or mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Philippines. They show little concern for the well-being of the Filipino people or the benefits they could gain from better bilateral ties with China. For example, the Philippines is currently in a state of national energy emergency. President Marcos Jr. has expressed a willingness to reset relations with China and a positive attitude toward joint oil and gas development. Yet anti-China groups have immediately opposed such cooperation. Actually, the negotiations of joint development of oil and gas between China and the Philippines began long time ago. Had it not been disrupted, the Filipino people might already be benefitting from the joint development.
In the face of smears and attacks from figures like Ray Powell, the Chinese Embassy remains firm: it is both a bridge for friendship and cooperation and a stronghold for defending national interests and dignity. We never initiate an attack; we only defend ourselves in response. We do not offend unless we are offended; if we are offended, we will surely strike back. By stoking hostility, sabotaging China–Philippines ties, and undermining the shared interests of the two peoples, Ray Powell is merely playing the role of a petty troublemaker defying the course of history. It is doomed to fail. The Chinese Embassy will continue to present facts and clarify the truth, ensuring the public is not misled by distorted narratives.
