The Philippines has issued a note verbale to China following a recent confrontation near Pag-asa island between the Philippine Navy and Chinese Coast Guard, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo announced Thursday.

"Yes, we have issued a note on that issue to the Embassy of China," Manalo confirmed in a video message.

In a separate statement, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said the issuance of a note verbale was ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"As explained by the Secretary, the note seeks clarification from the Chinese side over the incident involving the Philippine Navy and the Chinese Coast Guard in the vicinity of the waters of the Pag-asa Cays on 20 November 2022," Daza said, adding that more than 100 diplomatic protests have already been filed against China.

Reports said China's Coast Guard forcibly seized the suspected debris of a Chinese rocket that the Philippine navy was towing to Pag-asa island on 20 November. The Chinese vessel twice blocked the Philippine naval boat before seizing the floating debris it was towing.

In an earlier television interview, Manalo said the note was based on the official report from the Philippine Navy.

"The department has also taken action. We have issued a note verbale already seeking clarification from China on the incident," he said.

The Foreign Affairs chief reiterated the Philippine government's position on the issue as well as its firm support for the claim of its naval forces.

"We stand by the statement of the Vice Admiral, we are taking that into heart. That's why we have referred it in effect in the note verbale to China and we'd like to see how they reply," Manalo said.

"Now, depending on how their reply comes out, then we have to see what to do. In order to begin the process, we would like to get an official comment from China," he added.

Reports said metal debris from Chinese rocket launches have been found in Philippine waters on at least three other occasions.

On Monday, the Western Command released a report of an incident between the Philippine Navy and the Chinese Coast Guard about 800 yards West of Pag-asa Island.

According to the WESCOM, the Naval Station Emilio Liwanag noticed through a long-range camera an unidentified floating object near the vicinity of the waters of the Pag-asa Cays.

The NSEL immediately proceeded to the area for an ocular inspection and retrieved the unidentified floating object, tied it securely to its boat, and started towing it back to NSEL.

"However, as the NSEL Team was towing the floating object, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel with Bow Number 5203 approached their location and subsequently blocked their pre-plotted course twice. CCGV5203 then deployed its Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat," the statement read.

"The said CCGB RHIB forcefully retrieved said floating object by cutting the towing line attached to the NSEL rubber boat. CCGV RHIB then towed it back to CCGV5203," it added.

The Department of National Defense on Tuesday night, responding to the Chinese Embassy statement, maintained the metal debris floating near Pag-asa Island was "rudely" taken by the Chinese Coast Guard from the Philippine Navy's retrieval team.

DND officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. said the department stands by the accounts of its personnel in the area that, contrary to the narrative of the Chinese side, the debris being towed by a Philippine vessel was rudely taken by personnel from CCGV5203.

"The situation is still developing; thus, we cannot provide additional details at this time. Our Armed Forces, together with relevant government agencies, are working to ensure the safety of our Filipino community in Pag-asa and the surrounding areas," Faustino said.

China denied the Philippine Navy's claims that its coast guard cut the towing line between a Filipino Navy vessel and the said unidentified floating object.

It also denied blocking the Philippine Navy boat and forcefully retrieving the object, stressing that the Philippine side returned the said floating object to the Chinese side after a "friendly consultation."