MANILA, Philippines – SINABI ng Chinese Embassy sa Maynila na ipinatawag ng China’s Foreign Ministry ang Philippine ambassador sa Beijing sa gitna ng akusasyon na nagsasagawa umano ng smear campaign si Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela laban sa Beijing.
Dahil dito, sinabi ng Chinese Embassy na maghahain ang Chinese Foreign Ministry ng isang “solemn representation and strong protest” laban sa naging pahayag ni Tarriela.
“Earlier this week, we’ve stated China’s serious position on the remarks by this ‘spokesperson’ of the Philippine Coast Guard,” ayon kay China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun sa isang press conference.
“Head of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of Asian Affairs summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China this morning to once again lodge a serious protest,” aniya pa.
Bilang tugon, sinabi ni Tarriela na ang transparency efforts sa West Philippine Sea issue ay hindi probokasyon kundi “merely exposing the bully aggressor and the real victim.”
“Threatening a public servant for telling the truth will not intimidate us. It only proves that transparency is working—and that China fears an informed world more than it fears international law,” pahayag ni Tarriela sa isang mensahe.
“If Beijing truly wants to reverse any ‘negative impact,’ it should start by respecting the 2016 Arbitral Award, withdrawing from its illegally occupied reclaimed islands, and ending the harassment of Filipino fishermen,” dagdag pa niya.
Nauna nang iginiit ni Tarriela na hindi pagdungis o paninira ang kaniyang mga inilalathalang post, kundi mga totoong nangyayari sa West Philippine Sea na sinusuportahan ng mga ebidensiya tulad ng mga video, larawan, opisyal na ulat mula sa PCG, at third-party observations.
Nauna na ring nagpahayag ng buong suporta ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at ilang mambabatas sa mga halal na opisyal at institusyon ng gobyerno na dumidepensa sa soberaniya ng Pilipinas.
“Differences between States are best addressed through established diplomatic channels rather than public exchanges,” ayon sa DFA. Kris Jose
