Ched Rick Gatchalian

Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard ships are seen during a civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file

Article (news)

LP, Akbayan, ML call China's warning vs. PH officials 'reckless escalation'' threatening Filipinos

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/1768980304945WARN.png" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard ships are seen during a civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard ships are seen during a civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on May 16, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file </em></span></span></span>MANILA — China&#x27;s recent warning against some Philippine officials that &quot;they would pay the price&quot; if they do not stop spreading supposed misinformation is a &quot;reckless escalation that directly threatens the Filipino people&quot; and affects regional stability, according to Liberal Party, Akbayan, and Mamayang Liberal (ML).</div><p>In a joint statement on Wednesday, they urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to take appropriate diplomatic steps about the Beijing&#x27;s warning on several government officials.</p><p>&quot;We call on the DFA to take the necessary diplomatic steps, considering that the issue concerns threats of a foreign embassy on specific government officials. The DFA must lead in defending Filipino citizens and officials who merely assert their rights and perform their duties openly and responsibly in their own country,&quot; the statement read.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/16/china-s-embassy-in-ph-accuses-tarriela-of-attacking-smearing-chinese-leaders-1408" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&#x27;Blatant political provocation&#x27;: China protests PCG spox Tarriela&#x27;s post with Xi image</a></div><p>They stressed that the information released by the Philippine government about the situation in the West Philippine Sea are documented, consistent with international law, and enforced by the 2016 Arbitral Award.</p><p>&quot;Labeling transparency as “provocation” is a cynical attempt to fool the international community. Truth-telling does not escalate tensions; China&#x27;s illegal incursions, aggressive maneuvers, and open threats do,&quot; the parties added.</p><p>They also scored China&#x27;s supposed use of &quot;coercive language&quot; against the Philippines, a &quot;smaller state&quot;, stressing it signifies willingness to replace diplomatic approach with pressure.</p><p>&quot;These developments affect not only the Philippines, but all states with an interest in a rules-based international order.&quot;</p><p>The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said it filed a protest last Friday against Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela for “attacking and smearing Chinese leaders” on social media, which it said amounted to a &quot;political provocation.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/20/ph-domain-awareness-flight-detects-chinese-vessels-in-bajo-de-masinloc-1751">PH domain awareness flight detects Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc</a></div><p>Tarriela had a Facebook post earlier that included a photo of him giving a speech, with a background featuring a compilation of comical images of Xi under the banner &quot;Why China remains to be bully?&quot;  </p><p>In a statement, the Chinese embassy said Tarriela&#x27;s post was &quot;a serious violation of China’s political dignity and a blatant political provocation, which has crossed the red line.&quot; </p><p>Tarriela branded the protest as &quot;an attempt to deflect from the core issue: China&#x27;s repeated aggressive and illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea,&quot; using the Filipino term for the waters immediately west of the country.</p><p>Tarriela repeatedly questioned Chinese troops&#x27; presence in Philippine waters and claimed that Beijing was only doing some political propaganda when it offered assistance to distressed Filipino fishers.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/2/china-ph-agree-to-deescalate-tensions-in-west-philippine-sea-1855">China, PH agree to ease tensions in West Philippine Sea</a></div>

<p>China's warning against some Philippine officials that "they would pay the price" if they don't stop spreading supposed misinformation is a "reckless escalation that directly threatens the Filipino people" and affects regional stability, according to Liberal Party, Akbayan, and Mamayang Liber</p>

China's warning against some Philippine officials that "they would pay the price" if they don't stop spreading supposed misinformation is a "reckless escalation that directly threatens the Filipino people" and affects regional stability, according to Liberal Party, Akbayan, and Mamayang Liber

LP, Akbayan, ML call China's warning vs. PH authorities 'reckless escalation', urge DFA to take diplomatic steps

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LP, Akbayan, ML call China's warning vs. PH authorities 'reckless escalation', urge DFA to take diplomatic steps

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 21, 2026 05:40 PM PHT

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West Philippine Sea

Philippines

China

Akbayan

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Mamamayang Liberal

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