THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has filed a diplomatic protest against China over the recent incident off Ayungin Shoal where a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel pointed a military-grade laser light to a Philippine ship.
In a statement, the DFA said it released the diplomatic protest to the Chinese Embassy in Manila on February 14, condemning the “shadowing, harassment, dangerous maneuvers, directing of military-grade laser, and illegal radio challenges” by CCG vessel 5205 against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Malapascua on February 6.
The department said the actions of the CCG constituted a threat to Philippine sovereignty and security as a state, and were infringements of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone.
“The Philippines has the prerogative to conduct legitimate activities within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. China does not have law enforcement rights or powers in and around Ayungin Shoal or any part of the Philippine EEZ,” said DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza.
“These acts of aggression by China are disturbing and disappointing as it closely follows the state visit to China of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in early January during which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to manage maritime differences through diplomacy and dialogue, without resorting to force and intimidation,” she added.
The DFA urged China to comply with its obligations under international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and the 2016 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands, invalidating China’s claims of the 90 percent of the disputed West Philippine Sea.
It urged the Chinese government to direct its vessels to cease and desist from its aggressive activities against Philippine vessels in the disputed territory.
The incident happened while BRP Malapascua was assisting in the conduct of a resupply mission to troops in BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
In defense, the Chinese Ministry on Foreign Affairs said the Philippine ship “intruded” their territory the Ren’ai Reef, which he insisted was part of China’s Nansha Islands, which the Philippines calls Spratlys Island.
In 2022, the Philippines filed nearly 200 diplomatic protests against China over the dispute in the WPS which reportedly resulted in the harassment of Filipino troops and fishermen in the area by Chinese personnel. (SunStar Philippines)