Quezon city: A political analyst has asserted that the Chinese Embassy in Manila's persistent criticisms of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela and other Filipino officials contravene the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
According to Philippines News Agency, Ronald Llamas, speaking at the Saturday News forum, highlighted that the embassy's social media attacks against Tarriela constitute a violation of Article 41 of the Vienna Convention. This article mandates foreign diplomats to respect the host country's laws and to avoid meddling in its internal matters.
Llamas emphasized that the attacks are not merely directed at Tarriela as an individual but are an affront to the nation, given his role as a spokesperson for the PCG, a key national institution. He explained that Article 41 obliges diplomats to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state and prohibits them from interfering in its internal affairs.
This perspective is echoed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, who urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to take action. Diokno pointed out that the Chinese Embassy's criticisms of officials like Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Congresswoman Leila de Lima, and others, clearly breach Article 41.
The tension between the Chinese Embassy and Tarriela escalated last week, with both parties exchanging criticisms over the situation in the West Philippine Sea. Tarriela accused Beijing of adopting a more aggressive and confrontational stance, while the embassy dismissed lawmakers' statements as baseless.
The conflict intensified when the Chinese Embassy filed a diplomatic protest against Tarriela, accusing him of hyping maritime issues and misrepresenting facts, following a cartoon resembling Chinese President Xi Jinping. Tarriela responded by questioning the embassy's authority to demand an explanation or apology, suggesting the embassy's actions aim to suppress his voice.
Tarriela expressed that the embassy has been downplaying China's presence in the West Philippine Sea and spreading misinformation about the area and the 2016 Arbitral Award. He maintained that there is no reason for him to apologize to the Chinese Embassy.
