China said Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and West Philippine Sea spokesman Jay Tarriela "crossed the line" when he allegedly defamed Chinese President Xi Jinping during a talk with Filipino students, prompting Beijing to summon and lodge a diplomatic protest before Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz.

China's embassy in Manila said "no one wants to silence" Tarriela, and "no one should be silenced" when it protested Tarriela's action.

But it asserted that "freedom of speech does not give anyone the right to recklessly defame or attack others, let alone the head of state of another country."

"This is completely unacceptable," it said.

"China's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Philippine Ambassador in Beijing to lodge a strong protest against your attacks and smears of Chinese leaders, simply because you have crossed the line," it added.

The embassy then rejected the idea of a West Philippine Sea—the same body of water that Tarriela is fighting—by asking "where exactly is the 'West Philippine Sea?'"

"What are its coordinates? China has never made any claim over it. We simply defend our lawful and legitimate rights and interests in areas that belong to us in the South China Sea," it said.

The embassy claimed that what Tarriela puts as "transparency initiative"—that is, publishing China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea—"is in reality, a 'slander initiative.'"

It asserted that China's actions in the water complied with relevant laws.

"Every time you provoke incidents at sea and then twist the facts, your goal is to deceive the Filipino public and deliberately stir up hostility and tensions between China and the Philippines," it said.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said China's embassy in Manila is "being a bad guest," and that it should show respect to the host country.

But the embassy rejected such an accusation, saying it is "a bridge for promoting friendship and cooperation between the two countries, and also as a fortress in safeguarding China’s national interests and dignity."

"If fake news are spread, if China is defamed, or if hatred is incited, we will not remain patient and silent. We will push back firmly without hesitation. This is our duty," it said.

The embassy then argued that some people who don't even understand what respect means "have the nerve to label others as bad guest."

"That hypocrisy is itself a profound disrespect—to others and to themselves. It’s nothing but self-humiliation. To those who think they can smear China and expect silence: not a chance," it said.