Beware of the 'bad apples' in China-Philippines relations

"One bad apple spoils the barrel," as the Western saying goes ― or in China, "one rat dropping spoils a whole pot of porridge." Both proverbs speak to a simple truth: a single rotten element can corrupt the whole. And since the start of 2026, Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the so-called "West Philippine Sea," has proven to be just such an element, repeatedly making false and egregious remarks that have drawn firm rebuttals from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.

Beneath these verbal attacks lies a deeper agenda. Anti-China elements within the Philippines, in collusion with certain external actors, are exploiting maritime disputes to undermine China-Philippines cooperation and hold bilateral relations hostage. These are the true "bad apples" in China-Philippines relations.

The bitter irony? These very social media tirades and official statements were provoked by the humanitarian assistance China provided.

Late last year, the Chinese Navy rescued stranded Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea. Yet, in response, Tarriela launched an intensive social media campaign against China, a classic case of the viper biting his rescuer. He alleged that China exploited the rescue as "propaganda," "deviating from the essence of rescue," and even tried to incite resistance to China's maritime presence. The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines dismantled his smears piece by piece, releasing irrefutable evidence including rescue videos and radio communication recordings.

The farce escalated shortly after. On January 23, 2026, the China Coast Guard rescued Filipino crew members from a capsized cargo ship in the waters of Huangyan Dao, saving 17 people and providing them with medical treatment and accommodation. Tarriela, however, doubled down. He once again politicized a humanitarian rescue, falsely accusing China of "intimidating Philippine vessels" and demanding that China "recognize the relevant waters as the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines." The deputy spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines immediately hit back: A lie repeated a thousand times is still a lie. China is willing to engage in dialogue, but we are always prepared to face off against those who incite confrontation to the end.

This is no isolated act of hype. It is a calculated political maneuver ― one carefully orchestrated by anti-China elements within the Philippines, with the support and complicity of certain external actors.

Tarriela has turned social media into a stage for spectacle, and anti-China rhetoric into a fast track for personal advancement. After joining the Philippine Coast Guard in 2005, he spent years lamenting its "insufficient budget" and grumbling about modernization restrictions. But his career skyrocketed once he began weaponizing China-related issues in 2021: by the end of 2022, he was promoted to Commodore ― the youngest general-level officer in the history of the Philippine military and police. As he fanned the flames of the so-called "China threat," the Coast Guard's budget has swelled. He has published anti-China commentaries in Western publications such as The Diplomat to gain international exposure, and has been portrayed as an "anti-China hero." He has reaped fame and fortune for himself, yet it is the Philippine government and its people who are left to bear the risk of escalating conflicts. This is the hallmark of a "bad apple": putting personal gain above national interest, sacrificing the foundation of bilateral relations and regional stability for one's own selfish ends.

Ray Powell, head of a so-called transparency project, plays a key role in this collusive network. Operating under the guise of a "non-profit leader," he has long accepted funding from external forces and coordinated closely with the likes of Tarriela, forming a closed loop of "hype, organizational endorsement, and external echo." After China rescued Filipino fishermen in January 2026, Powell immediately amplified Tarriela's falsehoods in the international arena and fabricated a report alleging that "China falsified rescue data." He has also repeatedly distorted China's lawful actions ― such as the removal of Philippine official vessels and aircraft ― into "infringement of Philippine sovereignty," thereby emboldening anti-China elements in Manila. In essence, Powell and his initiative function as pawns for external interference in the South China Sea. Anti-China forces in the Philippines, in turn, exploit their "international organization" credentials to cloak their agenda in a veneer of "objectivity and impartiality." The two collude internally and externally, undermining peace and stability, and exposing the true nature of their motives.

Instigated by external forces, anti-China elements in the Philippines are not only hyping the "China threat," but are also accelerating military ties with the United States and Japan, handing over what amounts to a "token of allegiance." In 2026, the US-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) saw further upgrades. Meanwhile, with the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) now in force, Japanese Self-Defense Forces can enter the Philippines freely to conduct military activities. Tarriela's provocative remarks serve a clear purpose: to create pretexts for external forces to intervene in the South China Sea and to turn the Philippines into a forward outpost for geopolitical confrontation, which runs counter to the peace and development the Filipino people truly seek.

On maritime issues, China's position is clear and firm: we are ready to engage in candid dialogue and manage differences on the basis of mutual respect. But when it comes to acts that confuse right and wrong, incite confrontation, or collude with internal and external forces, China will see it through to the end. We never stir up trouble, but we never flinch from it. This stance not only upholds national sovereignty, but also preserves space for dialogue.

For the Philippines, it is time to recognize the real motives of those colluding with external forces. These people claim to be "defending national sovereignty," but in fact, they are dragging the country into the vortex of geopolitical confrontation. Just as President Marcos once stated, we cannot let differences define Philippines-China relations; differences should be the exception, not the norm.

The Filipino people have also widely praised China's rescues of their crew members and fishermen, with many taking to social media to say, "Thank you, China, for your kindness." Abandoning the politics of confrontation and returning to dialogue and consultation is the right path that conforms to the interests of both peoples, especially the Filipino people. China has repeatedly urged the Philippine government to rein in such anti-China provocations. It is time for the Philippines to take concrete actions: weed out the "bad apples" at home, reject the role of a pawn for external interference, and take back control of its own future and destiny.

The author is an international affairs observer. 

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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