MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela on Wednesday rejected Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan‘s claim that Philippine activities were triggering tensions in the contested waters west of the country.
Tarriela said China’s maritime actions, including the deployment of its vessels in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, were behind repeated confrontations in the West Philippine Sea.
“If there’s one country that’s driving tension not just in the West Philippine Sea, but the entire South China Sea, that will be the Chinese government,” Tarriela said in a briefing in Manila.
The Chinese ambassador earlier blamed Philippine activities involving BRP Sierra Madre for rising tensions in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
He claimed that the alleged construction activities on the grounded Philippine Navy ship violated the 2024 provisional arrangement between Manila and Beijing.
The exchange came days after a confrontation near BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine military outpost, at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel allegedly struck Philippine Navy troops with wooden batons during an encounter involving rubber boats.
Two Filipino servicemen were injured in the incident. The PCG later conducted a medical evacuation to bring the injured personnel to Palawan despite the presence of CCG vessels in the area.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with Jing at Malacañang on Tuesday.
Malacañang said the President raised the Ayungin Shoal incident and condemned what Palace press officer Claire Castro described as China’s “illegal, aggressive and barbaric actions” against Filipino personnel in the West Philippine Sea.
Tarriela likewise questioned China’s criticism of activities involving BRP Sierra Madre, which has been stationed at Ayungin Shoal since 1999.
“Comparing the military base in Mischief and the so-called construction that they are allegedly claiming, who is driving tension?” he said.
Tarriela pointed to China’s reclamation and militarization of features in the South China Sea, including Mischief Reef, where Beijing built a military outpost.
He also cited the presence of Chinese maritime forces in Philippine waters.
“Who’s harassing the Filipino fishermen? Who’s harassing and bullying smaller Coast Guard vessels? These are all Chinese maritime forces,” Tarriela said.
‘Part of one script?’
The PCG official also questioned a series of recent developments involving China, including Huang’s visit to Batanes, a Chinese scholar’s claim over the island, a China Daily AI-generated video that depicted Filipinos as monkeys, and the latest Ayungin Shoal confrontation that left two Filipino servicemen injured.
“Are all of these events just random, or are these just part of one script that until now we have yet to figure out?” Tarriela said.
He said the Philippines would continue to rely on diplomatic engagement with China despite repeated incidents in the West Philippine Sea.
“The diplomatic engagement of the national government remains to be our most important tool in resolving our differences and the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela said. /gsg
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