The X social media account of The Global Times, China’s national English-language tabloid run by the Chinese Communist Party, has traded barbs with the spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard over the recent collision of ships and water-cannon attacks in the West Philippine Sea.
PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela on Thursday night commented on a Global Times opinion post that the tabloid shared on its X account on March5. The op-ed piece said the Philippines was “unilaterally changing the status quo to serve the illegitimate interests of some politicians.”
Tarriela replied: “The current tension in the West Philippine Sea is caused by the People’s Republic of China unilaterally changing the status quo to serve the illegitimate interests of the Chinese Communist Party. In total disregard of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China’s highly unprofessional and irrational decisions and actions, which is an extremely dangerous brinkmanship of conflict.”
Global Times then retorted: “It appears that you are so afraid of us speaking the truth that you cannot wait to twist it. If it weren’t for (Philippine flag image) provocations, there wouldn’t have been chaos in the South China Sea. Your self-believed humorous mimicry actually serves to cover up the awkwardness of being exposed by the truth.”
The PCG spokesman then replied: “It appears that you are so afraid of us speaking the truth that you always choose to twist it. If it weren’t for China’s bullying behavior, provocative actions and illegal presence, there will be no chaos in the South China Sea. Your elaborative lies and detailed fake narratives will not cover up your ambitious intention of domination.”
Global Times has yet to answer Tarriela on X as of press time.