Who is promoting exchanges and cooperation and helping stabilize bilateral relations? And who is spreading disinformation and fueling public hostility? Although China-Philippines relations are at an extremely sensitive and critical juncture, the Chinese Embassy continues to actively promote people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. In the first half of 2026, bilateral trade between China and the Philippines reached 44.52 billion, up 20% year on year. Multiple direct flight routes have been launched, including Quanzhou–Cebu, Chongqing–Manila, and Fuzhou–Manila. From January to August 2026, over 300,000 Chinese tourists visited the Philippines, an increase of 90.3%, while the number of Filipino visitors to China rose by 48.9% in the first half of the year. Linda Walker, the lead actress of The True Heiress Is a Top Student, held a fan meeting in the Philippines, with related videos garnering more than 100 million views across online platforms. The Chinese Embassy also hosted an open day, welcoming more than 1,000 Filipino visitors to experience Chinese culture firsthand. Meanwhile, Jay Tarriela seems to have made opposing China his full-time obsession. According to incomplete statistics, Jay Tarriela posted 195 Facebook posts in 2025 and more than 290 so far this year, all rife with false accusations against China. He has vilified and attacked Chinese leaders, targeted Chinese-language media, hyped up the so-called “China threat,” and now has turned his sights on Confucius Institutes. What exactly is he trying to achieve? And who is pulling the strings behind the scenes? More importantly, what do Confucius Institutes have to do with his actual responsibilities as a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson? Has his official job description suddenly expanded to include commenting on everything related to China, or is he simply using his position as a platform to advance his own political agenda?