Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela responded to the Chinese Embassy in Manila's diplomatic protest against his statements, calling it an attempt to divert attention from China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. The protest stemmed from a presentation he made featuring satirical images of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs have yet to respond.
On January 16, 2026, the Chinese Embassy in Manila filed a diplomatic protest with Malacañang, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) against Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG's spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea. They accused him of "malicious provocations" due to his social media posts and a presentation at a local university that featured images captioned "Why China remains to be bully?" alongside photos of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which they deemed a satirical violation of China's political dignity.
Deputy spokesperson Guo Wei stated that Tarriela had persistently hyped maritime issues, misrepresented facts, and undermined bilateral relations. The embassy demanded clarification from the Philippine government on whether Tarriela's statements represent official policy and why he has not been held accountable, implying a call for sanctions.
Tarriela responded in a Facebook post, labeling the embassy's actions as interference in the Philippines' internal affairs, violating Article 41(1) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. "This is not legitimate diplomacy; it is an effort to intimidate and suppress truthful reporting on matters of Philippine sovereignty," he said. He added that China should explain incidents like ramming Philippine vessels, using water cannons, and harassing Filipino fishermen in the exclusive economic zone, actions stemming from Beijing's rejection of the 2016 Arbitral Award invalidating its nine-dash line claims.
The embassy's aggressive tone emerged following the arrival of new ambassador Jing Quan in December 2025, resembling "wolf warrior diplomacy." Over recent weeks, statements have targeted Tarriela, Senator Francis Pangilinan, Representative Leila de Lima, and the National Maritime Council. The Philippine government has not yet responded, amid ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.