Helpful at sea? China embassy cartoon recasts actions vs Filipino fishers

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MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese Embassy in Manila has responded to Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela with an edited cartoon posted in the evening of Saturday, May 9, that attempts to recast Beijing's actions in the West Philippine Sea.

Despite documented incidents of Chinese vessels using water cannons, blocking maneuvers and other coercive actions against Philippine vessels and Filipino fishermen, the embassy contrasting "Jay Tarriela's narrative" with what it called "The facts on the ground."

The first panel showed a China Coast Guard vessel looming over a Filipino fisherman. The second showed a Chinese uniformed figure apparently extending help to a person on a small boat marked "Help me," with the text, "Thanks Again!"

The post was an answer to Tarriela's own Facebook post sharing of a China Daily cartoon, which showed a large warship near a small Philippine boat. Tarriela captioned his post: "Again and again." China Daily's post carried the tags "Not again," "Japan" and "Philippines."

Incidents contradict cartoon

The embassy's image is not evidence of events at sea. Public records, first-hand accounts and diplomatic protests instead show a pattern of Chinese maritime actions that Philippine officials have described as harassment, coercion or dangerous conduct.

In December 2025, for one, the Philippine Coast Guard said three Filipino fishermen were wounded and two fishing vessels were significantly damaged when Chinese coast guard ships used water cannons near Sabina Shoal, also called Escoda Shoal by the Philippines.

Nearly two dozen Filipino fishing boats were targeted with water cannons and blocking maneuvers, and that a Chinese coast guard boat cut the anchor lines of several Filipino boats, endangering their crews.

The cartoon's "facts on the ground" framing is also contradicted by an indicident in April 2024, when China's coast guard harassed and damaged two Philippine boats near Scarborough Shoal as they were headed to assist Filipino fishermen. 

Dozens of other incidents in maritime areas China claims are part of its expansive "nine-dash line" but are well within the Philippines' sea jurisdiction. This is also despite a 2016 arbitral ruling which found no legal basis for China's claim to historic rights.

Online offensive

The embassy's latest post comes after months of unusually public exchanges between Chinese diplomatic officials and Philippine officials over the West Philippine Sea.

In January, the Chinese Embassy in Manila issued at least 15 Facebook posts over three weeks targeting Tarriela, lawmakers and Philippine institutions, accusing them of lying or spreading false narratives about Beijing's actions at sea.

The embassy has repeatedly accused Tarriela of misleading the public. In a January 27 statement, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng said Tarriela and others had been "attacking and smearing China" and "spreading false narratives."