The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Friday launched a sharp rebuke against Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, accusing him of disseminating untruths and deliberately inciting friction between the Philippines and China.
In an official statement, the embassy asserted that Tarriela resorts to emotional outbursts whenever his arguments and inquiries are directly challenged.
“Mr. Zay Tarriela, when you cannot win the arguments and answer the questions you resort to hysteria,” Chinese Embassy Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei said, adding that such tactics were nothing new.
Guo pushed back against Tarriela’s claims that China treats Filipinos with disrespect, clarifying that the embassy’s critiques target the spokesperson’s conduct and statements rather than the Philippine public.
“First, no one is disrespecting you simply because you are Filipino. You have told too many lies and done too many bad things. When those lies are confronted with facts and bad behavior is exposed, embarrassment and panic seem to be your only response,“ he added.
The diplomat stressed that the embassy is obligated to safeguard Chinese interests and dignity, while also ensuring consular protection and defending the legitimate rights and safety of Chinese nationals residing in the Philippines.
“Let me ask you, what is respect? You slander and smear China but expect China to remain silent. Chinese citizens now face discriminatory and targeted enforcement in the Philippines, and you hope the Chinese Embassy does not correct the wrong doings. Are these acts respect? Certainly not,“ he noted.
Guo urged the coast guard official to refrain from involving the broader Filipino public in his public profile.
“Stop dragging the Filipino people into your publicity stunts,” Guo said, while describing Filipinos as “warm, kind, and hospitable people” whom China respects.
“But you are unlike them and cannot speak for the Filipino people,“ he added.
The embassy further charged Tarriela with intentionally inflaming bilateral strife and pushing both nations toward a direct conflict.
“You deliberately stoke hostility between our two countries and try to push China and the Philippines toward confrontation, even conflict,“ he said.
The diplomatic backlash followed Tarriela’s public criticism of what he characterized as insulting and disrespectful rhetoric directed at Philippine authorities by a foreign mission.
In a social media statement, Tarriela voiced alarm over the idea of a foreign embassy disparaging Filipino identity on local soil.
He further accused the Chinese Embassy of issuing statements meant to demean Philippine officials who defend national maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea.
“Ito na ba talaga ang klase ng diplomacy ng Ambassador of China sa atin ngayon? As a Filipino, I do not think we deserve this,” Tarriela said, adding that Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. and the Department of National Defense deserved nothing less than respect.
This latest exchange comes on the heels of Beijing accusing Defense Secretary Teodoro of deception and evasion after the defense department stood by actions concerning detained Chinese nationals linked to a steel plant operation in Misamis Oriental.
Despite the heated exchange, the Chinese Embassy maintained that its core objective remains building bridges between both countries.
“The Chinese Embassy’s responsibility is to bring our two countries closer, not further apart; to bring our peoples together, not drive them away. To people like you, who are dead set on sabotaging Chinese-Philippine bilateral relations, we will keep saying NO. And you think you can silence us? Not a chance,” Guo said.
“It is time to stop pointing fingers and take a hard look at yourself in the mirror,“ he added.