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PCG exec: Pro-China vloggers active in WPS 'disinformation warfare'

Philippine News Agency

By Jose Cielito Reganit
February 18, 2025, 5:59 pm

MANILA -- Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela on Tuesday warned that pro-China vloggers are actively spreading disinformation to distort the realities of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and mislead the Filipino people.

Speaking at the House Tri Committee (Tri Comm) inquiry, Tarriela emphasized the need to hold online influencers accountable for misleading content that weakens national unity and benefits foreign interests.

"I was genuinely pleased to learn about the House of Representatives' decision to hold a public hearing addressing fake news, disinformation, and misinformation on social media. I believe this presents an opportunity for us to finally establish legislation that holds trolls, influencers, and bloggers accountable for their online content," Tarriela said.

Tarriela identified disinformation as one of the biggest threats to the Philippine government's efforts in the WPS, second only to China's direct aggression.

"It is important to note that one of the greatest challenges facing the Philippine government in the West Philippine Sea, aside from China's bullying, unlawful activities, and aggressive actions, is combating the spread of fake news and disinformation that obscures the true narrative of events in the West Philippine Sea, leading to confusion and division among our people," he said.

He explained that a false sense of security was created during the previous administration when the public was led to believe that the situation in the WPS was under control and that China had eased its aggressive actions.

"The limited reporting of these incidents, combined with the narrative that the former president's diplomatic efforts had successfully convinced (Chinese President) Xi Jinping to allow our fishermen to operate freely, contributed to the false sense of security among the Filipino people regarding the West Philippine Sea," he said.

Tarriela said for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to fulfill his commitment to defending Philippine sovereignty, it is crucial to unite the nation by ensuring people understand the real situation in the WPS.

"Thus, for President Marcos to deliver his commitment of not surrendering a square inch of our territory to any foreign power, he has to unite the Filipino people, and the only way that we can unite our highly polarized country is to awaken their sense of patriotism," he said.

Tarriela pointed out that pro-China vloggers' disinformation efforts follow a pattern of five key arguments to distort the truth and weaken the country's position on the issue.

These include undermining the 2016 arbitral ruling and falsely asserting that China's 10-dash line has historical legitimacy; twisting the narrative on maritime incidents by repeating China's claims that confrontations at sea were provoked by the Philippines, including vessel collisions; accusing the Philippines of being a puppet of the United States; claiming that the Philippines is powerless against China and that asserting its rights will only lead to war; and suggesting that tensions only escalated under the Marcos government while ignoring years of Chinese expansionism.

The PCG official said the tactics seek to divide the public, create doubt, and weaken national resolve in defending the country's maritime rights.

Beyond spreading false narratives, pro-China vloggers also engage in personal attacks against individuals who challenge Beijing's aggression, he said.

"When we launched our transparency initiative aimed at exposing Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, I was relatively unknown, having just returned from Tokyo after completing my PhD. However, as we gained traction in the weeks following our launch, I became a target for these trolls who sought to tarnish my reputation as the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea," Tarriela said.

Tarriela revealed that he became a victim of pro-China disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting him through fabricated allegations, which include highlighting his past dismissal as a Philippine Military Academy cadet to attack his credibility; accusing him of being a pro-US operative working against China; spreading false claims that he received a USD4 million talent fee; and fabricating a story that he visited Speaker Martin Romualdez's residence to receive three black bags.

"While these lies are absurd, they are not only frustrating but also deeply unfair to my family," he said.

Tarriela said his experience demonstrates how pro-China vloggers target individuals who speak out against Chinese aggression to silence and discredit them.

Despite the spread of pro-China disinformation, Tarriela noted, however, that public awareness has significantly improved, with surveys showing overwhelming support for the government's efforts to defend the West Philippine Sea.

"Fortunately, over the past two years, we have successfully achieved our objectives. Regarding the awareness of the Filipino people, a recent survey conducted by OCTA Research revealed that 84 percent of Filipinos support the national government's efforts to defend and assert maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea," he said.

He also pointed out that seven out of 10 Filipinos are unlikely to support pro-China candidates in the 2025 midterm elections, indicating that efforts to expose disinformation have been effective.

However, Tarriela cautioned that as public awareness grows, pro-China vloggers will likely intensify their efforts to manipulate online narratives and influence national policies.

With social media platforms identified as the primary battleground for these disinformation campaigns, he said stronger measures are needed to regulate online content and prevent foreign-influenced narratives from distorting national security issues.

Through legislation and public vigilance, Tarriela believes the country can counter these deceptive narratives and defend the truth.

"I am committed to my role in exposing Chinese aggression and raising awareness among the Filipino people so that we can unite as one nation with a renewed sense of patriotism. My efforts are not motivated by US interests or political gain; my dedication is for the future generations of Filipinos," he said. (PNA)