Tarriela fires back at China's diplomatic protest, exchanges accusations anew

Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela responded to the Chinese Embassy in Manila’s diplomatic protest and allegations of a smear campaign, describing the move as a “clear attempt” to divert attention from China’s “repeated aggressive actions” in the West Philippine Sea.

- 

Tarriela said in a Facebook post on Friday, January 16, that the Chinese Embassy's demand for clarification from the Philippine government constitutes interference in internal affairs and a violation of Article 41(1) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

"By pressuring our own government over my personal and professional expressions as the PCG spox on the WPS, the Chinese Embassy is engaging in precisely the interference it is obliged to avoid," he said.

"This is not legitimate diplomacy; it is an effort to intimidate and suppress truthful reporting on matters of Philippine sovereignty," he added.

Tarriela also stressed that China, not the Philippine government, should be the one providing the Philippines with an explanation for the well-documented incidents of Chinese Coast Guard vessels ramming Philippine ships, carrying out dangerous maneuvers and using water cannons in the West Philippine Sea.