MANILA — West Philippine Sea spokesperson Jay Tarriela criticized Senator Robin Padilla’s recent remarks suggesting that confrontation with China brings no benefit to the Philippines and that continued contestation over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is futile, saying such a position undermines the plight of Filipino fishermen and frontline maritime personnel.

Tarriela said the statement disregards the situation of Filipino fishermen who were “injured and had their boats damaged by China Cost Guard water cannons near Escoda Shoal” just weeks ago, incidents he said show “ongoing aggression despite diplomatic efforts.”

He also said the remarks were “a profound disservice to the PCG personnel who are courageously and selflessly patrolling the West Philippine Sea,” noting that coast guard personnel are “constantly subjected to China’s bullying and dangerous actions.”

“Our presence in these waters is not the cause of escalating tensions,” Tarriela said, adding that Philippine patrols aim “to prevent China from normalizing its illegal presence in the WPS while, at the same time, providing safety and security to our ordinary fishermen.”

Tarriela stressed that the Philippines “has never initiated or escalated tensions in the WPS,” saying the country has instead been on the receiving end of China’s “barbaric, illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions,” which he said violate the 2016 Arbitral Award and international law.

Responding to Padilla’s call for diplomatic dialogue, Tarriela said the Marcos administration has actively pursued diplomacy, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. repeatedly emphasizing the importance of open communication with Beijing while maintaining that the WPS issue does not define overall Philippines-China relations. He noted that bilateral trade remains strong, with China as the country’s top import partner and a major export destination, and trade volumes reaching billions annually despite the WPS issue.

On Padilla’s discussion of territorial seas and exclusive economic zones, Tarriela said the Philippine government understands the distinction under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, adding that “it is only China that refuses to accept the invalidity of its ‘nine-dash line,’ as ruled by the 2016 Arbitral Award.”

Tarriela said Padilla’s vision of Filipino fishermen freely fishing in the WPS, Philippine Coast Guard vessels no longer being subjected to water cannons, and the extraction of oil and gas resources at Recto Bank “can only materialize if China ceases its aggression.”

“Suggesting that the Philippines should halt its defense of rights reveals a misunderstanding: we are not ‘fighting’ in an offensive sense but steadfastly upholding sovereign rights against bullying,” he said, adding that Filipino fishermen are the ones who truly “fight” daily by pursuing their livelihood in waters he said are endangered by China’s maritime forces.

Tarriela said that “standing firm is not provocation; it is patriotism and it is our obligation for the next generation of Filipinos.”

He also clarified that Vietnam “is not a founding member of ASEAN” and “only joined in 1995.”