THE Chinese Embassy’s swift public responses to Philippine disclosures on incidents in the West Philippine Sea are meant to undercut Manila’s transparency campaign and divert attention from Beijing’s actions at sea.
This is according to Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela, as he warned Saturday that the pattern of rapid rebuttals is part of a broader strategy to blur the narrative and split public opinion.
“Para sa akin, ang ginagawa ng Chinese embassy, tagging me personally dito sa mga social media posting nila, basically challenges our own transparency initiative. If every time that we pose incidents na inilalabas natin as press releases, immediately you can count 1, 2, 3 hours may sagot agad sila,” Tarriela expressed during the Saturday Media Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
“So this kind of approach of the Chinese embassy obviously muddles and diverts real issues. Imbes na ang pag-usapan natin ang violation nila, aggression nila, tila nililito lang nila tayo,” Tarriela added.
As Manila has increasingly documented confrontations and maritime incidents in the West Philippine Sea through photographs, video and detailed press releases,Tarriela argued that the speed and tone of the embassy’s responses are designed to counter how the Philippines provides information to its own citizens and to the international community, rather than to directly address the substance of the reported violations.
“And this is their strategy, to counter how we provide the right information to the Filipino people and to the international community and also divide public opinion as well,” Tarriela said.
He underscored that the issue goes beyond personalities and centers on the integrity of official messaging about events unfolding in contested waters.
Professor Jay Batongbacal, Director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea of the UP College of Law, for his part, warned that the embassy’s public sparring with Filipino officials and lawmakers crosses established diplomatic lines and risks intruding into domestic political discourse.
“Well para sa akin, ‘yung ginagawa ng Chinese embassy and what the ambassador are doing, is unusual. I don’t think this has happened before na ang ambassador ng isang bansa ay nakikibakbakan pati na sa mga legislators,” Batongbacal noted.
“At parang sa akin, pangihimasok na ‘yun sa mga domestic affairs ng bansa. Kasi kung titignan natin lahat ng ibang embahada – whether it’s Canada, US, Japan, etc. – kahit nagkakaroon tayo ng mga matitinding issue tungkol sa kanila, kahit may nag-uusapan, nagki-kriticize sa kanila, mga legislator, mga taongbayan, tahimik sila,” he added.
“Bakit? Kasi alam nilang pag sila ay pumasok sa ganung usapin, parang pangihimasok na ‘yan, direct intervention na ‘yan, direct interference na ‘yan ‘dun sa democratic participation, democratic discussions ng bansa. So kumbaga off limits talaga sa kanila ‘yan kung totoo silang diplomat,” he said.
He stressed that the criticisms directed at Tarriela and at legislators such as Cong. [Leila] De Lima and senators [Kiko] Pangilinan and [Risa] Hontiveros involve matters that are valid subjects of national debate, and that direct engagement by a foreign envoy in such discussions raises serious questions about boundaries and protocol.
“Pero ‘yung ginagawa ngayon ng China obviously, taliwas duon. Kaya para sa akin nga panghihimasok iyon, parte ‘yan ng kanilang attempt. Sinusubok nilang directly mag-interfere duon sa ating discussions and decision-making,” Batongbacal stressed.
“At itong kini-kriticize nila si Commodore Tarriela o si Cong. De Lima o sila Senators Pangilinan and Hontiveros on issues na talaga namang valid na pag-usapan ng sambayanang Pilipino. So iyon direct interference and intervention yan as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
“At kung sambayanang Pilipino ang nanonood ‘yan, nakikita ‘yan, dapat sa tingin ko para maproteksyonan din ang ating demokrasya at independence ng ating bansa, dapat sila rin kung ganyan rin lang dapat sumagot doon nga sa sinasabi ng ambasador at embassy. Kasi nga, they’re crossing a line. Kung gusto nilang maging ganoon, di wag silang aangal kung sakaling buong sa sambayanan Pilipino ang biglang sumagot sa kanila,” he added.
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