Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela on Monday hit back at the Chinese Embassy in Manila after it asserted that the Chinese vessel JIA HAI KE 7 was operating in waters under China’s jurisdiction.

The Chinese Embassy, through Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei, said China has “sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters” and that the vessel was operating in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“We hope that the Philippine side will genuinely respect China’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, and cease interfering with and hyping up China’s normal navigation and scientific research activities,” Guo said in a statement posted by the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Monday.

Tarriela disputed the statement, pointing to the vessel’s reported location near Itbayat, Batanes.

“Ambassador Jing Quan, anong kachinongalingan (kasinungalingan) na naman ito?” Tarriela said.

According to Tarriela, the JIA HAI KE 7 was only 37.84 nautical miles from Itbayat, Batanes.

He cited Article 56 of UNCLOS, which he said gives the Philippines, as the coastal state, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), including marine scientific research.

Tarriela also cited Article 246, which he said requires the Philippines’ consent before marine scientific research can be conducted in its EEZ.

“Walang permit. Walang consent. Walang jurisdiction ang China dito,” Tarriela said.

He also pointed out that Batanes is not within China’s nine-dash line claim, which he said was rejected by the 2016 Arbitral Award.

“Ngayon, gusto niyo pang palawakin hanggang Luzon Strait?” Tarriela said.

Tarriela further rejected the Chinese Embassy’s characterization of the vessel’s activity as “normal navigation.”

“Ang normal na barko, hindi nag-i-spoof ng AIS position, hindi nag-loiter sa ibabaw ng submarine cable corridor, at sumasagot sa radio challenge,” he said.

According to Tarriela, the JIA HAI KE 7 did the opposite of those actions.

“Hindi ‘nag-hype’ ang Pilipinas. Kayo ang nag-i-invent ng jurisdiction sa Batanes. Tigilan niyo na ang KACHINONGALINGAN (kasinungalingan) na iyan!” he said.