The heated online exchange between Chinese and Filipino officials continues after the Chinese Embassy in Manila accused Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela of repeatedly lying and insisted that disputes between China and the Philippines can only be resolved through bilateral negotiations.

In a Facebook post dated Jan. 25, Embassy Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei questioned Tarriela’s credibility following his public response to earlier remarks by China’s foreign ministry.

“Telling the truth? How many times have you lied?” Guo said, adding that Tarriela’s claim that he did not mention the name of a Chinese leader “certainly is not the first time nor will it be the last time.”

The Chinese Embassy reiterated Beijing’s position that maritime disputes with Manila should be handled exclusively through consultations between the two governments.

“Relevant disputes between China and the Philippines can only be properly resolved through bilateral negotiations and consultations,” Guo said.

While stating that China “does not seek trouble,” the Embassy warned that it would respond forcefully to criticism, declaring it would “continue to expose lies, share facts and the truth, and push back every attack and smear against China.”

The Embassy’s remarks came a day after Tarriela issued a personal response on Jan. 24, saying attempts to threaten or intimidate a public servant for speaking out would not succeed.

“Threatening a public servant for telling the truth will not intimidate us,” Tarriela said.

“It only proves that transparency is working—and that China fears an informed world more than it fears international law,” he added.

Tarriela said if Beijing wanted to reverse what it described as “negative impact” on bilateral ties, it should begin by complying with international law.

“If Beijing truly wants to reverse any ‘negative impact,’ it should start by respecting the 2016 Arbitral Award, withdrawing from its illegally occupied reclaimed islands and ending the harassment of Filipino fishermen,” he said.

He added that transparency in the West Philippine Sea “is not provocation,” but a way of exposing “the bully aggressor and the real victim.”

The exchange followed an earlier post by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Jan. 22, which criticized the Philippine government for allegedly allowing Tarriela to make what Beijing described as “inflammatory, confrontational, misleading and baseless remarks.”

Guo Jiakun said China had summoned the Philippine ambassador in Beijing to lodge a “serious protest” over the statements.

“Time for the Philippine side to undo the negative impact ASAP and stop tolerating the smear campaign and provocations, lest they disrupt normal diplomatic communication or further harm bilateral relations,” he wrote on X.