Jonathan Frederic De Santos

A China Coast Guard vessel fires water cannon at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship, August 11, 2025 near the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17699340435891754916895538081125_CCG 2.jpg.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="A China Coast Guard vessel fires water cannon at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship, August 11, 2025 near the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A China Coast Guard vessel fires water cannon at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship, August 11, 2025 near the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Despite what it sees as an escalating smear campaign by the Chinese Embassy, the Philippine Coast Guard is standing firm on its transparency initiative, according to their spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodre Jay Tarriela.</p><p>Tarriela said he cannot speak for the Chinese government “as to how they&#x27;re going to escalate or de-escalate their illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea&quot; but said the coast guard will continue to work to increase Filipinos&#x27; awareness and appreciation of the Philippine position.</p><p>&quot;As what Justice (Antonio) Carpio said, this is a long game,” he said.</p><p>In a social media post on January 31, Tarriela expressed his support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s stance that kicking out Chinese diplomats would be a last resort.</p><p>He added, however, that he will not be silenced by the ongoing attacks from the foreign embassy.</p><p>The Chinese Embassy has called out Tarriela, saying it would not accept what it described as his “reckless and offensive attacks” against China’s head of state.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/1/tarriela-hits-back-at-chinese-embassy-truth-and-accountability-are-not-provocations-0028">Tarriela hits back at Chinese Embassy: ‘Truth and accountability are not provocations’</a></div><p>Embassy deputy spokesperson Guo Wei had warned that if Tarriela’s statements and actions were to further harm bilateral relations, it would be “an extremely unfortunate and regrettable consequence.”</p><p>The coast guard officer has countered that it is China’s harassment of Filipino fishers and coast guard in the West Philippine Sea that is straining relations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/31/pcg-spots-3-china-vessels-while-guarding-filipino-fisherfolk-in-bajo-de-masinloc-1425">PCG spots 3 China vessels while guarding Filipino fisherfolk in Bajo de Masinloc<br/></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;PERSONALIZED. ATTACKS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Since the start of 2026, the Chinese Embassy has increasingly singled out and openly attacked Tarriela on social media, posting at least 15 Facebook entries that mention him by name.</p><p>Other Filipino legislators such as Sens. Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan, and Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/25/ph-pushes-back-as-china-s-wolf-warrior-rhetoric-targets-officials-1422">have also been embassy targets on social media</a>.</p><p>“Ang goal yan, i-discredit ‘yung tinatawag natin na transparency initiative at atakihin yung mga uniformed personnel na ginagawa lang yung trabaho nila,&quot; international relations expert Renato de Castro of De La Salle University  said of the embassy&#x27;s initiatives.</p><p>(The goal is to discredit what we call the transparency initiative and attack uniformed personnel who are only doing their jobs)</p><p>Online personalities and commentators have since picked up and built on the embassy&#x27;s statements to criticize officials and the Marcos Jr. administration in general.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/24/wrap-what-do-they-mean-when-they-talk-about-pro-china-candidates-1330">What do they mean when they talk about ‘Pro-China’ candidates?<br/></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>A BIGGER ONLINE WORD WAR</strong></div><p>National security expert Dr. Sherwin Ona, also of DLSU, pointed out that the word war extends to online trolls and the use of artificial intelligence. </p><p>“Ang nangyayari ng China dyan is damihan yung kanilang counter-narratives…Pag didictate nila ng kanilang mga narratives, global po yan,&quot; he said.</p><p>(What is happening is China is producing more counter-narratives... and when they dictate their narratives, that is on a global scale)</p><p>&quot;And alam nyo naman din yung investment nila sa online, especially sa mga trolls. At ngayon po, yung AI technologies, artificial intelligence, lahat po yan ay ginagamit pang mai-push yung narrative or agenda,” he added. </p><p>(And you know how much China has invested online, especially in trolls. And now there is artificial intelligence. They use all of those to push their narrative or agenda)</p><p>Tarriela added the PCG is also currently partnering up with different organizations to combat online trolling.</p><p>“[A]nd I think all those cognizant agencies are also doing the same effort for us to put a stop on the spread of misinformation and fake news,” he said.</p><p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines has also launched an investigation into orchestrated disinformation campaigns aimed at eroding public confidence in the military and the government. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/22/afp-probes-alleged-deliberate-orchestrated-campaign-vs-military-1353">AFP probes alleged ‘deliberate, orchestrated’ campaign vs military</a></div><p>Amid all the online clashes and trolling, Tarriela also called on Filipinos to remain vigilant and critical when consuming China’s online propaganda. </p><p>“It is our patriotic duty and obligation that we support the narrative of the Philippine government that is aligned with international law and represents and illustrates what&#x27;s really happening in the West Philippine Sea,” he added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/31/analysts-warn-of-possible-security-economic-impact-of-ph-china-word-war-1402">Tip of the iceberg: Analysts see possible economic impact, security concerns amid &#x27;word war&#x27; between PH, China</a></div>

<p>Tarriela said he cannot speak for the Chinese government “as to how they're going to escalate or de-escalate their illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea" but said the coast guard will continue to work to increase Filipinos' awareness and appreciation of the Philippine position.</p>

Tarriela said he cannot speak for the Chinese government “as to how they're going to escalate or de-escalate their illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea" but said the coast guard will continue to work to increase Filipinos' awareness and appreciation of the Philippine position.

‘This is a long game:’ PCG continues transparency initiatives despite online clashes with Chinese Embassy

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‘This is a long game:’ PCG continues transparency initiatives despite online clashes with Chinese Embassy

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 01, 2026 04:29 PM PHT

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West Philippine Sea

Philippine Coast Guard

Chinese Embassy

China

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