China summoned the Philippine ambassador in Beijing on January 22, 2026, to protest remarks by Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela on the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese Foreign Ministry demanded that Manila swiftly "undo the negative impact" of these statements. Tarriela responded that threats would not intimidate them and transparency would continue.
On January 22, 2026, China's Foreign Ministry's Department of Asian Affairs summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz to express displeasure over statements by Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that Tarriela made "inflammatory, confrontational, misleading and baseless remarks" against China on maritime issues in the West Philippine Sea. They demanded that the Philippine government rein in Tarriela to avoid further straining bilateral ties.
The summons followed a diplomatic protest filed by the Chinese Embassy in Manila on January 16, 2026, against Tarriela's presentation at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. The talk included satirical images of Chinese President Xi Jinping with the text "Why China remains to be bully?" The embassy described it as a "serious violation of China's political dignity" and questioned if it represented official Philippine policy.
Tarriela responded on social media, calling the Chinese Embassy's pressure a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which prohibits foreign diplomats from interfering in a host country's internal affairs. "By pressuring our own government over my personal and professional expressions as the PCG spox on the WPS, the Chinese Embassy is engaging in precisely the interference it is obliged to avoid," he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs stated it supports officials performing their duties in defense of sovereignty but prefers addressing differences through diplomatic channels rather than public exchanges. Retired Justice Antonio Carpio suggested the DFA should summon the Chinese ambassador routinely after maritime incidents. Meanwhile, SeaLight director Ray Powell labeled it "diplomatic hypocrisy," citing a Chinese consul's disparaging remarks against Japanese Prime Minister Sana Takaichi.
The incident is part of the broader South China Sea dispute, where the Philippines won the 2016 Arbitral Ruling declaring China's claims without legal basis. Beijing continues deploying vessels that harass Philippine boats in the resource-rich waters.
