PCG-West Philippine Sea spokesman slams China ‘fabrications’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), through its spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, has lashed out at China for insisting on its “fabricated narratives” that the United States was stirring tension in the region by agitating Filipinos against the Chinese.

In his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Commodore Jay Tarriela debunked an editorial piece in China’s English language newspaper Global Times warning the Philippines to “remain vigilant against the ‘enthusiasm’ displayed by the US and some other countries.” The article appeared yesterday.

“There is no such thing as a free lunch, and behind the US’s ‘enthusiasm’ lies a hidden agenda,” Global Times said.

Tarriela said the article was baseless. “Until now, the PRC (People’s Republic of China) has not come to terms with the fact that their fabricated narratives and baseless claims about the alleged aggressive actions of the Philippines are not that convincing, and instead, they weaken their own argument that the US is the primary instigator of the rising tensions in the South China Sea,” the PCG official said.

“It remains unclear whether they are so engrossed in their own deceptions that they fail to see their own actions as the main source of conflict in this area, or if they are merely resolved to push their own interpretation of situations, oblivious to the fact that the Philippines’ straightforward stance is so impactful that even their domestic population is starting to question their government’s crafted scenarios,” he added.

He stressed the PCG would continue to be vigilant against “bullies,” as he expressed gratitude to countries which continue to support the Philippines’ position on the South China Sea issue.

“While it is true that there is no such thing as free lunch, unlike China, our allies do not take away our lunch, especially if it is rightfully ours,” he maintained.

China continues to ignore protests filed by Manila against acts of harassment and provocation by Chinese coast guard and militia vessels committed within Philippine territorial waters.

Recently, Chinese vessels blasted with water cannons Filipino boats delivering provisions to a military outpost on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. The Filipinos were able to complete their mission nevertheless.