While China has insisted on the accountability of the Philippines in the recent collision of two of its vessels at Bajo de Masinloc, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reminded it of its P60-million debt.

The DFA restated its demand for damages for the 17 June 2024 incident at Ayungin Shoal where China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel caused the destruction of Philippine assets and the illegal seizure of military equipment and personal belongings of Filipino security forces.

In a statement on Friday through Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said the Philippines “reiterates its demand to China for compensation for the damage caused to Philippine vessels and equipment... as well as the return of its firearms and equipment, and the personal effects of its personnel that were illegally seized on that date.”

The DFA reminder came after a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy destroyer and a Chinese Coast Guard cutter collided which Beijing blamed on the provocation of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel.

The Philippine government strongly denied China’s accusation.

Chinese response

In a statement, China Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Jiang Bin said several PCG and other government vessels illegally intruded into China’s territorial waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal on 11 August.

“The Philippine Coast Guard vessels frequently engaged in dangerous maneuvers such as high-speed ramming and sharp turns to cross the bows of Chinese vessels, creating a complex and tense situation at sea,” according to Jiang.

The 17 June 2024 confrontation involved CCG personnel obstructing a humanitarian rotation and resupply mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.

The incident resulted in injuries, including the loss of a finger by a Philippine Navy sailor.

The AFP has earlier announced its intention to seek P60 million in compensation from China for the damage sustained during the operation.

China had previously rejected similar demands.

In a press briefing last year, the China Foreign Ministry dismissed the AFP’s compensation request, which was made before the signing of a temporary arrangement regarding Ayungin Shoal.

The Philippine government has consistently maintained its stance of asserting its sovereignty and upholding international law in the West Philippine Sea, despite the increasing presence of Chinese vessels in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Lazaro, meanwhile, dismissed China’s allegation of the PCG’s involvement in the recent collision of the two Chinese vessels.

Describing the incident as an “unfortunate outcome,” Lazaro asserted the Philippine vessels did not cause it.

In an interview at the DFA, Lazaro firmly dismissed China’s accusation against the Philippines.

“They will always say that,” she told reporters.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the Philippines will not dignify what he described as “blatant lies” amid the escalating tensions in the WPS.

“They can say what they want. But I mean, who’s more credible at the end of the day?” he said, when asked about China’s blaming the Philippines for the maritime confrontations.

“I’m tired of contradicting them, you know, and I don’t want to answer a blatant lie and, you know, glorify it. And everybody knows the truth. Why will we pick a fight? That’s what the President said yesterday. Who in their right mind will initiate a conflict when you are a smaller country? Common sense, unless they don’t have any,” he said.

Aggression condemned

The Stratbase ADR Institute strongly condemned the latest act of aggression by Chinese vessels at Bajo de Masinloc, calling the 11 August incident a blatant violation of international law and sovereignty.

Stratbase president Dindo Manhit denounced the illegal maneuvers by Chinese forces that led to the collision during a lawful Philippine Coast Guard resupply mission to Filipino fishermen.

The Philippines’ sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc was affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award issued under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“China’s disregard of binding legal instruments is a direct affront to the international system and undermines the very principles that ensure peace, stability, and safety at sea,” Manhit said.

Senator Riza Hontiveros, meanwhile, did not mince words, saying that Beijing is actively censoring the truth.

“Instead of owning up to its actions, it is now covering up its maritime mishap in the West Philippine Sea by spreading disinformation,” she said.

Hontiveros noted that Chinese state media did not report on the collision of their two maritime vessels.