Response from the Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines Ji Lingpeng on Recent Public Exchanges on the South China Sea and Related Issues Between China and the Philippines
In the past four weeks, Jay Tarriela, the so-called PCG spokesperson for the “West Philippine Sea” and certain individuals and institutions in the Philippines have been relentlessly attacking and smearing China and spreading false narratives. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns such kind of words and actions. We have firmly responded and made serious démarches to the Philippine side in both Beijing and Manila.
I.
Over the past several years, Tarriela has repeatedly made defamatory remarks against China, distorted facts, misled the public, and even openly lied, seriously undermining China–Philippines relations and poisoning public opinion in the Philippines toward China.
On December 25 last year, during a routine patrol in the South China Sea, the Chinese Navy rescued a Philippine fisherman and coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure his safe return. This was a purely humanitarian act. Yet Tarriela took to social media to dismiss the rescue as “propaganda” and a “PR stunt” and lied that the Philippine Coast Guard did not receive any information about the fisherman in distress from the Chinese Navy. On-site audio recording released by the Chinese Navy clearly shows that the Chinese Navy had fully and clearly informed the Philippine Coast Guard regarding the location and condition of the fisherman and that the latter responded: “Roger that, sir. I’ll pick it up”.
On January 14, Tarriela gave a presentation at a Philippine university and, in front of young students, openly attacked and smeared the Chinese leader, which constituted a serious infringement on China’s political dignity and crossed the line. China lodged solemn representations with the Philippine side. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines acknowledged that “Foreign heads of state and government, in particular, should be off-limits or at least treated with respect”.
After China responded firmly, Tarriela claimed at a forum that he did not mention the Chinese leader by name in the previous presentation. Videos posted online clearly show that this was yet another blatant lie. After his falsehoods and flawed arguments were repeatedly exposed, Tarriela began calling in helpers here and there, accusing China of trying to silence him, claiming China was interfering in Philippine internal affairs, and calling on the Philippine government and lawmakers to put pressure on the Chinese side.
According to incomplete statistics, in 2025 alone Tarriela posted 195 Facebook posts attacking and smearing China. In December alone, he posted 21 such items—on average, one such post every working day. Is relentlessly attacking China, inciting hostility, and misleading public opinion part of the mandate of a Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson? Whose statements represent the official foreign policy position of the Philippines, Jay Tarriela or the DFA spokesperson? Who authorized and cleared him to recklessly attack the head-of-state of another country? Is this really how Philippine public officials are supposed to perform their duties in defense of Philippine sovereignty and national interests?
II.
As neighbor and friend, China has always helped the Philippines with sincerity and goodwill. Neighbors should respect each other, learn from each other, and support each other. In recent years, China has actively supported infrastructure development in the Philippines, including donating the Binondo–Intramuros Bridge in Manila and the Bucana Bridge in Davao, which have significantly eased local traffic. More projects such as the Davao–Samal Bridge are under construction.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, China was the first to provide the Philippines with more than 55 million doses of vaccines—at a time when many Chinese citizens themselves were yet to be fully vaccinated. In 2021, after Super Typhoon Rai caused devastating damage, China donated 10,000 tons of rice and US$ 1 million in emergency cash assistance. In 2023, China provided 20,000 tons of fertilizer in donation. In November 2025, following multiple typhoons and earthquakes, China offered US$ 1 million in cash and RMB 10 million worth of relief supplies.
Before the pandemic, China was the Philippines’ second-largest source of tourists. In 2019, 1.74 million Chinese visitors spent more than US$ 2.3 billion in the Philippines. For the past decade, China has been the Philippines’ largest trading partner and largest source of imports. It is also a vast market for Philippine agricultural products such as durian, mango, and banana. Last year at China International Import Expo, three Davao durian exporters alone secured deals worth US$ 36.6 million. There are numerous such examples.
Regrettably, in recent years, certain forces in the Philippines have repeatedly hyped up maritime disputes and fueled confrontation between the two peoples. China’s goodwill and the broader picture of China–Philippines friendship and cooperation are rarely mentioned, while mainstream and social media are flooded with false narratives such as “China encroaches on the EEZ of the Philippine” or “China bullies the Philippines”.
Think about it: if China were truly “bullying” the Philippines or seeking to resolve disputes by force, would the situation at sea look like it does today? Would the grounded Philippine warship still be receiving resupply? China has exercised the greatest restraint and patience because we do not want to damage longstanding relations with our neighbors. Any other major country would not have been nearly as restrained.
Look at what is happening in other countries and regions around the world. Think about Ukraine, Venezuela, Gaza, and Greenland. The Philippines should feel fortunate to have a neighbor like China.
While other ASEAN members are actively seeking cooperation and exploring shared opportunities of development with China, how many opportunities has the Philippines squandered and missed by focusing on maritime disputes with China? Direct flights between the two countries have dropped from over 300 per week before the pandemic to just 84 now; people-to-people exchanges have fallen from more than 3 million to around 300,000. Chinese investment in the Philippines now lags far behind that in other ASEAN countries, only slightly higher than Brunei. Is this really what the Philippines hope to see?
If people like Tarriela continue to spread disinformation and distorted narratives unchecked, even the strongest diplomatic efforts to stabilize bilateral relations will be undermined, and even more development opportunities will be lost for the Philippines.
III.
The Chinese Embassy serves as a bridge for China–Philippines friendship and cooperation. In recent months, the Embassy, with doors wide open, has been engaging broadly with different sectors of Philippine society to enhance mutual understanding and trust and promote exchanges and cooperation.
With the Embassy’s active facilitation, law-enforcement agencies from both sides cooperated to apprehend and repatriate a major kidnapping-and-murder suspect responsible for multiple deaths, helping safeguard normal people-to-people exchanges. The Philippines has adopted a 14-day visa-free policy for Chinese nationals, and the number of Chinese tourists is steadily increasing. The two sides have reached preliminary consensus on a road-map for diplomatic engagement, with the first political dialogue in a year scheduled later this month.
As the Philippines serves as ASEAN chair this year, both sides hope to step up consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. The Embassy is also actively facilitating potential cooperation with China in clean energy, the digital economy, waste-to-energy, agriculture, poverty reduction, and expanding exchanges in culture, education, media, and sub-national cooperation.
After the China Coast Guard rescued 17 Philippine seafarers in distress last week the Embassy assisted in coordinating contact and handover.
But let us be clear: the Chinese Embassy is also a firm defender of China’s national interests and dignity. We welcome constructive dialogue and discussion, including on differences and disputes. What we oppose are baseless attacks and smears. If falsehoods are spread, if China is maliciously vilified, if hatred is incited, we will not tolerate it. We will respond firmly and without hesitation. This is a right granted under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and a core duty of any Chinese embassy.
If individuals like Tarriela are allowed to trample on China’s dignity and insult Chinese leaders without consequence, then what’s the point of establishing an embassy and putting Chinese diplomats here? Chinese diplomats have every right to let the public know the facts and China’s position.
China’s responses have been factual, reasoned, and justified. So why are these individuals suddenly panicking? Because their words and deeds do not stand up to legal or logical scrutiny. They are nothing more than repeated lies and verbal abuse—labeling and stigmatizing others, and calling for help to compensate for a lack of genuine confidence. When lies are exposed, when the truth comes out, when manufactured narratives collapse, they become anxious, angry, and hysterical.
People like Tarriela often claim that the Philippines is a democracy and values freedom of speech. Then why can’t they have normal debates with us? Some say they are disrespected, yet they show no respect to others. When they repeatedly describe a country that has been sincerely helping the Philippines—its largest trading partner and biggest source of imports—with words like “barbaric,” “aggressive,” “coercive,” “illegal,” and “deceptive,” and when they attack another country’s head-of-state, they have already lost the most basic sense of respect, revealing a distorted and unbecoming face, bringing disgrace upon themselves. Whatever critical response they invited truly serves them.
Some claim China is interfering in Philippine internal affairs. If they don’t understand diplomacy, don’t make things up. Non-interference is a fundamental principle of China’s foreign policy. With respect to the Philippines internal affairs, whether it is corruption cases or budget debates, China observes and tries to make sense of, but does not interfere and has no interest in doing so. However, when individuals like Jay Tarriela repeatedly attack China and even China’s leadership day after day, year after year, this clearly falls outside the scope of internal affairs and squarely within the realm of foreign affairs. It concerns China’s dignity, its interests, and the direction of China–Philippines relations. China must respond—this is entirely normal.
Some individuals even invoke the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Have they actually read the Convention? Do they understand its provisions, its spirit, and its essential principles? Barely informed about the subject, they nevertheless dare to force a literal application.
In China there is a saying: “We have no intention of initiating conflict, but we will respond resolutely if our interests are violated.” In the recent public exchanges between the Chinese Embassy and Jay Tarriela and his helpers, when exactly did the Embassy initiate any attack? Not once. The Chinese side has only responded defensively—clarifying facts and correcting false narratives.
Some people seem to follow a deeply flawed logic: “I can insult and attack you as much as I like, but if you respond, that’s disrespect, interference, or an outrage.” When they lose the argument, they run to complain, seek helpers, and try to gang up on others. This only reveals arrogance, ignorance, insecurity, and panic. A true exemplar of strength do not rely on such tactics; they face issues directly, debate openly, and let facts, data, and legal principles speak. Truth only becomes clearer through debate.
Let me be absolutely clear: no matter when these people spread fallacies about China or maritime issues, no matter how many helpers they recruit—one, ten, or a hundred—the Chinese Embassy is ready to respond, and will do so to the end.
IV.
The Chinese Embassy remains committed to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy. We aim to stabilize China-Philippines relations, not drive confrontation; to bring our peoples closer, not apart. We remain firmly committed to managing differences through dialogue and consultation, while resolutely safeguarding China’s national interests and dignity.
Those who hope China will remain silent in the face of attacks are completely mistaken. As long as falsehoods continue, China will continue to respond, without pause. We will continue to say no to them loudly and clearly. Those who think they can pressure China through statements, resolutions, or endless complaints underestimate us. That approach simply does not work. Those who seek to incite hatred and sabotage China–Philippines relations will not easily succeed, because we’re watching closely, and will debunk every lie and scheme whenever they arise.
Finally, a brief personal note: I have returned to Manila following a recent leave in China. Going forward, my colleague, Deputy Spokesperson Wei Guo, and I will remain closely engaged with those who seek to attack China. They are free to attack; we are just as free to respond. Freedom of speech works both ways. That said, our real focus is advancing China–Philippines exchanges and cooperation. No need to get so worked up—pace yourselves. The road ahead is long, and there will be plenty of chances to talk.
Source： The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines
