The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Friday hit back at Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, accusing him of spreading what it described as lies and stoking hostility between the Philippines and China.
In a statement, the embassy said Tarriela resorted to “hysteria” when he could not answer arguments and questions raised against him.
“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.
The embassy spokesman also rejected Tarriela’s claim that China was disrespecting Filipinos, saying its criticism was directed at his statements and actions, not at the Filipino people.
“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.
It said the Chinese Embassy has a “responsibility to uphold China’s interests and dignity,“ as well as provide consular protection and safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens 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.
“Stop dragging the Filipino people into your publicity stunts,” Guo said, while describing Filipinos as “warm, kind, and hospitable people” whom China respects.
The embassy further accused Tarriela of deliberately fueling tensions between the two countries and attempting to push them toward confrontation.
“You deliberately stoke hostility between our two countries and try to push China and the Philippines toward confrontation, even conflict,“ he said.
The statement came after Tarriela criticized what he described as disrespectful remarks from a foreign embassy toward Philippine officials.
In a social media post, Tarriela questioned how the Philippines had reached a point where a foreign embassy could allegedly insult Filipino identity within the country.
He also accused the Chinese Embassy of issuing statements that appeared to belittle Philippine government officials who opposed what he described as China’s actions against Philippine 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.
The latest exchange comes after China accused Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. of evasion and deception following the Department of National Defense’s (DND) defense of the government’s actions involving Chinese nationals detained in connection with a steel plant operation in Misamis Oriental.
The Chinese Embassy, meanwhile, maintained that its responsibility is to bring the Philippines and China closer and promote ties between their peoples.
“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.
