(UPDATE) THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it filed a diplomatic protest against the China Coast Guard (CCG) for firing a water cannon at Philippine vessels on resupply missions to Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough) and Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoals in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The DFA said it summoned the Chinese ambassador to Manila, Huang Xilian, following the new acts of harassment by China.
A Chinese diplomatic vehicle leaves the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila on December 11, 2023. The Philippines said it had summoned China’s envoy on December 11 and flagged the possibility of expelling him following the most tense confrontations between the countries’ vessels in years at flashpoint reefs in the disputed South China Sea. JAM STA ROSA / AFP
A Chinese diplomatic vehicle leaves the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila on December 11, 2023. The Philippines said it had summoned China’s envoy on December 11 and flagged the possibility of expelling him following the most tense confrontations between the countries’ vessels in years at flashpoint reefs in the disputed South China Sea. JAM STA ROSA / AFP
The National Task Force for the WPS said Chinese ships on Saturday fired water cannons at two Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships that were delivering supplies to Filipino fishermen at the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.
Hours later, a CCG vessel eventually collided with a civilian boat on a resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal.
DFA Undersecretary Teresa Lazaro summoned Huang to hand him the Philippine government’s note verbale, the department’s spokesman Ma. Teresita Daza said in a joint press conference with the task force.
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Daza added declaring Huang as “persona non grata” in the Philippines was also “something that has to be seriously considered.”
Daza said a demarche or diplomatic note regarding the incident was lodged by the Philippine Embassy in Beijing with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a phone call.
“If you do something or say something that is unwelcome, then you can be subject to what they call persona non grata, but with this case, I think it’s something that will have to be seriously considered whether the incidents or the series of incidents merit having him a persona non grata,” Daza said.
She said she hopes Huang “will try to do his best to actually enhance relations between the two countries.”
Sen. Francis Tolentino on Monday pressed for the “urgent recall” of Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Jaime FlorCruz “in light of the ongoing provocations” by China.
“Our nation cannot afford to maintain diplomatic complacency when our citizens are subjected to harassment and intimidation on our EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” Tolentino said in a statement.
The United States also called on China to abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling and stop its dangerous and destabilizing conduct in the South China Sea.
The ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s expansive claim, which encroached on the Philippines’ EEZ.
In a statement, US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said the US “stands with our Philippine allies in the face of these dangerous and unlawful actions.”
“We reaffirm that Article 4 of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft — including those of its Coast Guard — anywhere in the South China Sea,” Miller said.
He said that based on the July arbitral ruling, China “has no lawful maritime claims to the waters around Second Thomas Shoal, and Filipinos are entitled to traditional fishing rights around Scarborough Reef.”
“As provided under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, the 2016 arbitral decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines,” Miller said.
He said that outside Scarborough Reef on December 9 and again near Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal on December 10, Chinese ships employed water cannons and reckless maneuvers, including forcing a collision, “causing damage to Philippine vessels undertaking official supply missions to those locations, and jeopardizing the safety of the Filipino crew.”
The Chinese ships at Scarborough Reef also “used acoustic devices, incapacitating the Filipino crew members, and drove away Philippine fishing vessels,” he said.
“By impeding the safe operations of Philippine vessels carrying provisions to Filipino service members stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, the PRC interfered in lawful Philippine maritime operations and in Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation,” Miller said.
“Obstructing supply lines to this longstanding outpost and interfering with lawful Philippines maritime operations undermines regional stability” and “reflect not only reckless disregard for the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos but also for international law,” he said.
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