Campaigners say they have raised enough money to begin legal action to block China's plans for a mega-embassy.

“We strongly oppose groundless attacks and smears. If fake news [is] spread, if China is defamed or if hatred is incited, we will not remain patient and silent. We will push back firmly without hesitation. This is our duty. We have every legitimate right to let the public be aware of the basic facts and China’s position,” said the embassy.

THE Chinese Embassy in Manila on Thursday strongly criticized a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official for issuing statements which it said heightened tensions in the South China Sea. The embassy accused Jay Tarriela,

China bought the land in 2018 and has been seeking approval for a new embassy here since 2019. The site has become a battleground of David and Goliath proportions, as Mark and his neighbours fight China's plans. "We're 100 flats, 200 people, facing the might and the wealth of the People's Republic of China."

Critics have called on the government to reject plans for the embassy over security concerns, with a decision expected on Tuesday.

A POLITICAL analyst on Saturday said the Chinese Embassy in Manila’s repeated criticisms of the Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commo. Jay Tarriela and other Filipino officials run counter to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.