Philippine Coast Guard (Philippine Coast Guard) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said he would not apologize to Beijing after China lodged a diplomatic protest over his social media posts showing alleged Chinese actions in contested waters.
Speaking at a news forum on Saturday, Tarriela said the Chinese Embassy had no authority to demand an explanation from him.
“There’s no authority for the Chinese Embassy to ask us to explain,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a need for me to apologize to the Chinese Embassy.”
The Chinese Embassy in Manila earlier criticized Tarriela for posting images it claimed were “attacking and smearing Chinese leaders,” calling the posts a “serious violation of China’s political dignity” and a “blatant political provocation.”
The embassy said it had lodged “solemn representations” with Malacañang Palace, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the PCG.
Responding to the protest, Tarriela said diplomatic relations fall under the DFA’s mandate. “It’s a DFA concern… diplomatic relations is not our concern,” he said.
The PCG official earlier rejected the embassy’s accusations, saying his posts were neither smears nor slanders but factual accounts supported by video footage, photographs, official PCG reports, and third-party observations.
“My role as spokesperson for the WPS is to transparently communicate these realities to the Filipino people and the world, in full alignment with our government’s commitment to a rules-based order and international law,” he said. He added that objections to such posts, including those using satire, “underscore discomfort with the truth being exposed.”
On Thursday, Tarriela also responded on social media to a Chinese Embassy deputy spokesperson who accused him of making “fallacious remarks” on the South China Sea issue.
Tensions persist as Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea through which more than $3 trillion in annual maritime trade passes overlapping claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Areas within Philippine jurisdiction are officially referred to as the West Philippine Sea, encompassing waters west of the archipelago, including areas around the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring China’s expansive claims to have no legal basis. China has rejected the ruling.
