China slammed over WPS 'PR stunt'

Civil society group Atin Ito Coalition blasted China yesterday for an alleged public relations stunt involving Chinese soldiers coming to the aid of a stranded Filipino fisherman on Christmas Day.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

In a statement, the group, which has led several civilian missions to the West Philippine Sea, said it “strongly rejects China’s deceptive, self-serving and propaganda-driven public relations campaign following its so-called assistance to a distressed Filipino fisher on Christmas Day.”

"We recognize the universal duty to assist people in distress at sea. But what China did was not humanitarianism, it is image management. It is propaganda-driven assistance meant to distract us from years of harassment, violence and illegal incursions," Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David said.