MANILA. Foreign correspondents stationed in Manila stood united on Wednesday, vehemently rejecting China’s claims that journalists in the Philippines manipulated videos to portray the country as a “victim” during resupply missions in the South China Sea.
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) issued a strong rebuke, asserting, “takes deep offence at the insinuation that the press is a ‘troublemaker’ and in cahoots with the government to forward a political agenda.”
The dispute arose following a statement by China’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, posted on a platform X on March 26. Hua alleged that videos recorded during routine missions to deliver supplies to troops stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal were manipulated by journalists onboard to create sensational news.
In response, FOCAP condemned the “false, baseless claims” made by Hua and the Chinese Embassy in Manila, which echoed the accusations on the same platform.
Despite reaching out for comment, neither the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines nor China’s foreign ministry in Beijing immediately responded to Reuters.
Highlighting the role of journalists in covering the disputed waters, FOCAP emphasized that the comments were an affront to journalistic integrity, stating, “a free and independent press reports not what they are told, but what they observe.”
In a further rebuttal, a spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, responsible for escorting civilian boats during resupply missions, asserted on platform X, “China seems to have overlooked the fact that in a democratic country like the Philippines, we highly value freedom of speech and freedom of the press.”
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
