Phl ‘strongly’ protests back-to-back confrontation with China

The Philippines strongly protested against the back-to-back aggressive and harassing actions undertaken by Chinese forces against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

According to DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza, the message was personally conveyed by DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro to Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, who was summoned by the DFA on Monday.

"DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro verbally delivered the protest against the Chinese dangerous maneuvers that led to collision, illegal shadowing and undue use of water cannons against the rotation and resupply mission undertaken by the Philippines yesterday in the Ayungin Shoal for the Philippine Government detachment in the BRP Sierra Madre," Daza said.

"The DFA reiterated to the Chinese Ambassador that Ayungin Shoal is not an island. It is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, in accordance with UNCLOS and as upheld by the 2016 Arbitral Award," she added.

She continued: "As such, the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the feature. As a low-tide elevation, Ayungin Shoal can neither be the subject of a sovereignty claim nor is it capable of appropriation under international law."

Daza noted that during Lazaro's meeting with Huang, she stressed that the rotation and resupply missions of the Philippines to the BRP Sierra Madre are part of the regular operations of the Philippine government in line with domestic and international law.

"She stressed that China has no right to interfere with the Philippines' legitimate activities in the Philippines' own EEZ, including in the waters around Ayungin Shoal," she said.

"The actions of the Chinese vessels within the Philippine EEZ are illegal and violate the freedom of navigation," she added.

Daza said the Philippine government firmly asked China to "direct its vessels to cease and desist from its illegal actions against Philippines vessels, and to stop interfering in legitimate Philippine government activities, or lingering in waters around Ayungin Shoal, and doing any action that violates the Philippines' sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone."

"Comply with its obligations under international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, the 2016 Award in the South China Sea Arbitration, and the 1972 COLREGS," she said.

"Adhere to its commitments under the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," she added.

On Sunday, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea reported that the China Coast Guard fired a water cannon to obstruct the country's resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, seriously damaging one of its ships' engines in the process.

The incident happened just a day after the CCG blasted a water cannon at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels in the Scarborough Shoal.

The BFAR ships were en route in a resupply mission to bring supplies to Filipino fishermen in the area.

'Stern representation'

For his part, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said Huang lodged "stern representation and strong protests to the Philippines" over the incidents last weekend.

China-stated owned media Xinhua reported that Huang reiterated China's claim over Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal, which they referred to as Huangyan Island and Ren'ai Reef.

Huang noted that the Philippines should stop what he described as "maritime infringement and provocative acts" with China.

He also said that the Philippines should "return to the right track of properly handling differences" with China through dialogue and consultation to avoid escalation of tensions in the South China Sea.