A Chinese PLA navy sailor provides humanitarian assistance to a Philippine fisherman. Photo: Source

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and a so-called civic organization Atin Ito have recently hyped the Chinese military's humanitarian assistance to a Philippine fisherman in distress in the South China Sea, linking the action to the so-called "propaganda." Chinese experts said on Sunday that rescuing people in distress has long been a moral virtue deeply rooted in Chinese tradition. Manila's twisted logic only exposes the narrow-mindedness of those making the claim.

Calling Manila's move as a typical example of "a petty mind making conjectures about an upright man," experts urged the Philippines to stop politicizing China's regular maritime rescue operations and to focus on the safety and welfare of its fishermen operating in distant waters.

In an exclusive report published on Friday by the Global Times, a warship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy rendered humanitarian assistance to a Philippine fisherman on Thursday, providing food and water after the fisherman was found adrift at sea, and notifying a nearby PCG vessel for follow-up rescue. The Chinese Embassy in Manila also released information confirming the incident on the same day. 

However, Jay Tarriela, a PCG spokesperson, claimed on X account on Friday that the Chinese navy's action was a so-called "humanitarian gesture" involving "a bottle of water and three packs of biscuits," and denied that the PCG had received prior information from the PLA Navy regarding the fisherman's location or condition.

Audio recordings obtained by the Global Times show that the PLA Navy warship twice relayed the fisherman's coordinates to PCG vessel No. 4408, clearly explained that the fishing boat had suffered engine failure, and stated that food and water had already been provided. In the recordings, the PCG vessel is heard responding, "Roger that, sir."

Meanwhile, Atin Ito, a so-called non-governmental organization in the Philippines that claims to be a "Filipino fishers' welfare civil society coalition," also made similar claims in a Facebook post on Saturday. The group claimed that the Chinese navy's rescue of a distressed fisherman in disputed waters was a "propaganda-driven public relations campaign."

Rafaela David, co-convenor of Atin Ito and president of the Akbayan party, further claimed, "What China did was not humanitarianism, it is image management, it is propaganda-driven assistance," Philippine media inquirer.net reported on Sunday. 

Philippine media Philistar also reported Atin Ito's claim regarding the PLA Navy's rescue on Sunday, claiming that the action was "an alleged public relations stunt."

Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, called on the Philippine side to stop politicizing PLA Navy's maritime humanitarian assistance as "China's humanitarian rescue of fishermen in the South China Sea is not a temporary or publicity-driven action. It has been a long-standing and routine practice."

Chen told the Global Times on Sunday that China has consistently fulfilled international conventions in the South China Sea and provided public maritime search and rescue services. "The Philippine side could have chosen to cooperate with China to better safeguard the safety and welfare of Philippine fishermen, but instead opted for confrontation, which runs counter to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," Chen said.

Yang Xiao, a maritime affairs expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, urged the Philippines to pay greater attention to marine ecology and the safety of fishermen operating at sea. 

"Whether the boat drifted for 24 hours, as claimed by the PCG spokesperson, or for three days, as stated by the fisherman himself, allowing a small vessel lacking self-sustaining capability to operate in distant waters is inherently dangerous and irresponsible," Yang told the Global Times on Sunday.

China routinely conducts patrol and law enforcement operations in the waters concerned, while the PCG has encouraged Filipino fishermen to operate there without providing adequate safety coverage or basic humanitarian arrangements, Yang said. "Attacking the PLA Navy's assistance and politicizing humanitarian rescue efforts is deeply regrettable." 

Atin Ito has previously launched repeated attacks against China on South China Sea issues. While the group claims to be a non-governmental organization, investigations by the Global Times and reports from Philippine media indicate that it is more akin to a "hired gun," serving the US strategy in the South China Sea as well as the personal political interests of Akbayan party president Rafaela David.