ABS-CBN News feels that it must insert scare quotes around the word “harassed” in a headline and in the first paragraph of a story about the latest harassment of Philippine vessels by Chinese vessels: “PCG moves to protect Filipino boat ‘harassed’ by China ships near Scarborough Shoal” (January 13, 2026).
The Philippine Coast Guard on Tuesday said it had successfully rescued a Filipino fishing vessel being “harassed” by Chinese ships near Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, in the West Philippine Sea.
Compare to BusinessWorld’s headline and first paragraph about the incident, same dateline: “Philippines: Chinese ships harassed fishing boat near Scarborough Shoal.” And:
A PHILIPPINE fishing vessel was harassed by Chinese navy and coast guard ships near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Monday, underscoring rising tensions in the South China Sea as Beijing asserts tighter control over contested waters.
What it looks like is that one publication is accepting as fact what is after all long-term and routine harassment by Chinese ships in the area, whereas the other publication feels obliged to hint that the evaluation is the view of only one party involved in the incident. Since the People’s Liberation Army Navy might well dispute the use of such an evaluatively loaded term to describe its actions, how can an objective report possibly state as unquestioned fact that the PLA Navy was engaged in harassment? But such a concern presupposes a false idea of objectivity. Objectivity is about determining and being guided by what is, not about agnostically deferring to all possible perspectives and assertions about what is.
It might be objected that ABS-CBN is simply neutrally indicating that the Philippine Coast Guard described the PLA Navy ships movements as harassment using the word “harassed.” Fine, if so. But I doubt that this was the only consideration.
Blaring and blocking
ABS-CBN News:
In a statement, the PCG said the incident happened at around noon on Monday, January 12, when a Filipino fishing boat attempted to head toward a fishing ground west of the Scarborough Shoal, an area off Zambales that has been under Beijing’s control since 2012 following a standoff between Manila [and Beijing]….
The agency noted that a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel and a China Coast Guard ship blared sirens and blocked the boat’s path about 16 nautical miles southeast of the shoal.
“The fishing boat’s captain changed course to the southeast to evade the vessels but reported being closely trailed by the China Coast Guard ship,” it added.
A PCG multi-role response vessel, BRP Cape San Agustin, responded and had the fishing boat’s captain board it shortly after 3:59 p.m.
He received medical treatment and gave a full account of the incident, PCG said, noting that its personnel captured photographs and video evidence of the Chinese vessels’ “dangerous actions.”
Even before the incident, the People’s Liberation Army Navy had already blocked the Filipino boat to prevent it from approaching the shoal….
Beijing has yet to comment on the incident, but it previously justified its actions by saying it sought to protect its “rights” in the South China Sea.
The quotation marks for the phrase “dangerous actions” can more readily be construed as intending only to signify that the phrase was uttered by someone, presumably by the Philippine Coast Guard. But again, the phrase implies an evaluation that the CCP side is more likely to dispute than such wording as “block” and “prevent.” The PLA Navy might say that it had to block and prevent, but only because of the “danger” caused by the “trespassing” of the Philippine fishing vessel.
However China’s standard operating procedures in the waters near the Philippines may best be described, they are also rightly described as harassment. And as dangerous. These are matters of fact.
Getting closer
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, a spokesman for the Philippine Navy, says the PLA Navy has been working more closely with the China Coast Guard.
“The PLA Navy is now in a closer vicinity with the CCG ships when they conduct harassment activities. These are coercive and aggressive actions designed to destroy the will to fish of our fishermen.” More facts.
