The past few days saw an intense word war erupting between certain politicians and Philippine government officials and a Chinese embassy officer. This word war was ignited by Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the West Philippine Sea, who made use of mock images that ridiculed Chinese leader Xi Jinping, provoking a strong reaction from Chinese officials.
Guo Wei, deputy spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Manila, questioned whether Tarriela, a uniformed officer of the Philippine government, is allowed to attack a foreign leader, and whether this is representative of Philippine diplomatic policy. The Chinese official denounced Tarriela for political provocation and violation of China’s political dignity, and, stepping on the bounds of diplomatic relations, demanded that he be meted disciplinary measures.
Senators led by Risa Hontiveros, pounced on the statements of China’s official, denouncing Guo as “very undiplomatic” and a “bad guest.” She initiated a resolution signed by 15 senators denouncing China, further heightening tensions. Proposals were also laid out in the Senate to declare the Chinese official as persona non grata which all the more exacerbated the situation.
1. Tarriela’s inflammatory actions which sparked the war of words were made on January 14, right before the scheduled January 16 Philippine-China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea, a diplomatic forum in Xiamen, China, overshadowing the positive efforts at diplomacy to settle maritime disputes between the two countries. It also came a few weeks after cooperation between the the PCG and the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) in the rescue of a Filipino fisherman.
Like all his previous statement, Tarriela’s actions were clearly calculated to provoke China. Like his counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Tarriela regards China with open antagonism, in complete disregard of diplomatic ties.
Tarriela is a mouthpiece of US policy. Endorsed by the US embassy, he underwent a training program in the East-West Center in Washington in 2021. Shortly thereafter, in early 2023, he was assigned to serve as spokesperson of the PCG on West Philippine Sea concerns, with the task of portraying China as an aggressor in the South China Sea, and divert attention away from US build-up of military presence in the South China Sea. He works in close collaboration with US psywar agent Raymond Powell, who established the SeaLight Foundation on the same year.
2. It is highly hypocritical for the Senate, especially Amboy Senator Hontiveros–who is seeking to curry favor with the US to advance her 2028 ambitions–as well as some rabid American stooges in the House of Representatives, to act like guardians of Philippine sovereignty against foreign interference. Just last January 15, the Senate ratified the Philippine-Japan Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), following its ratification of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) in 2024. Both these agreements are brazen violations of Philippine sovereignty, giving the Japanese military greater access to Philippine ports, allowing the country to be used in the US “first island strategy” to contain China.
Unlike their tirades against China, not once has the Senate or its senators spoken in unison against the expansion of US military bases in the Philippines under the EDCA; not against the secret US facilities in Palawan, Ilocos, Aurora and elsewhere; not against the deployment of US long-range missile systems in undisclosed locations; not against US naval warships sailing across the Philippines territorial waters through island straits; not against the presence of giant US carriers strike groups mooring in the country’s EEZ; not against continuing US war preparations and deployments in the guise of Balikatan exercises; not against announced plans of the US government to “sell” Philippine EDCA sites to Taiwan; not against the plans to establish a refueling hub in the Davao Gulf to serve US naval warships; nor against plans to establish an ammunition factory in Subic that form part of US plans use the country as base for its war operations in Asia.
While American stooges are spewing vitriol against China, the US military silently established and deployed a new unit in the Philippines, the Army Rotational Force-Philippines under its Task Force Philippines, that aims to “expand American military footprint” in the country. At the same time, its naval forces are set to conduct maneuvers and other military activities, along with so-called “like-minded” military forces, within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
3. The escalation of anti-Chinese tirades by Philippine officials and politicians coincides with a period of growing international isolation for US imperialism. Its so-called “rules-based order” is now thoroughly exposed as empty rhetoric. This comes after its military aggression in Venezuela and abduction of its president Nicolas Maduro.
This was followed by declarations of taking over Greenland, threats against Mexico, Colombia, Panama, increased aggression against Cuba, and subversive activities in Iran accompanied by threats of an invasion, have roused global indignation, including among its traditional allies. Trump’s unilateral pronouncements and incessant bullying have isolated the US even from its allies in Europe and North America, who, ironically, have responded by strengthening their ties with China.
The US government under the fascist madman Trump is rushing to seize control of key sources of raw materials around the world. To free itself of any impediment, the US government is undermining the United Nations through committee withdrawals and funding denial. It is securing its interests in the Gaza Strip by establishing the so-called Board of Peace. In the US, there are rising protests by the American people against the US government’s fascist clampdown against migrants.
The escalation of propaganda attacks against China by American stooges in the Philippines, invoking defense of Philippine sovereignty, have the effect of deflecting the Filipino people’s attention from mounting global outrage against US imperialism. By depicting China as a threat to Philippine sovereignty, they hope to perpetuate the false American narrative that US military presence is needed to protect the country.
In fact, it is the growing threat of full-scale US military aggression in Asia, in collaboration with junior imperialist partners Japan and Australia, that the Philippines need to protect itself from. The Filipino people must stand firm for national sovereignty and demand that the country be free from the presence of all foreign military troops. With the US expansion of its military presence in the country, the greater the likelihood that the Philippines will be dragged into a devastating war that will serve only US hegemonic interests.
Source : https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/on-tirades-against-china-silence-towards-the-us/