DFA summons Chinese Embassy exec over latest Ayungin incident

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday morning summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy following the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) dangerous maneuver against a Philippine vessel on a recent rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission to Ayungin Shoal.

In a statement, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said they summoned the Chinese chargé d'affaires to “convey the Philippines’ strong protest against the aggressive actions” committed by the CCG and Chinese maritime militia. 

Daza said that the Philippine Embassy in Beijing has also been instructed to lodge the same demarche with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

“In these demarches, the Philippines stressed, among others, that China has no right to be in Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation that lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS and as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award,” she said. 

“China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable. It infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

The DFA also stressed that the Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and the Philippine exclusive economic zone immediately.

On March 23, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported that the CCG performed a dangerous maneuver against a Philippine vessel. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that one of its vessels, which was part of the mission, was encircled by Chinese vessels. 

The AFP also said Unaizah May 4 (UM4), which was carrying supplies for the Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal, "sustained heavy damage'' due to the ''continued blasting of water cannons" from two CCG vessels.

Three navy personnel were injured due to the incident, according to National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano on Sunday.

Sincere efforts

Daza said that the Philippines has made “sincere efforts” to implement the order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping to lower the tensions in the South China Sea, but China’s aggressive actions call into question their own sincerity in doing so. 

“Even as the Philippines continues to engage China in dialogue and diplomacy at the bilateral and multilateral levels, China’s aggressive actions contradict and put to waste ASEAN-China efforts to promote practical activities to foster peace and cooperation in the region,” she said. 

With this, Daza said that the Philippines, once again, urges China to abide by international law and respect the legitimate rights of other states like the Philippines, and to stop its continued violation of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

Tensions between China and the Philippines have increased recently as the two countries traded accusations such as alleged intrusion, shadowing, blocking, and performing dangerous maneuvers.

China claims most of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Parts of the waters within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) have been renamed as West Philippine Sea. Ayungin Shoal is in the Philippines' EEZ and continental shelf under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and as upheld by the 2016 Arbitral Award. 

In a press briefing on Monday morning, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. challenged China to put its sovereignty claim to arbitration after it had warned the Philippines to bear all ''potential consequences'' amid its actions in the South China Sea.

Teodoro also maintained that it is Beijing that is continuously intruding into the Philippines' territorial waters.

At the Senate, Senator Grace Poe deplored the latest harassment against Filipino troops and called the latest incident an "uncivilized action" that must stop.

"From shadowing our vessels to collisions and water cannon assaults, incidents in the West Philippine Sea have been escalating. China’s actions appear geared to heighten the already tensed situation," Poe said in a statement
 
"While the Philippines continues to deal with the attacks in [a] legal, legitimate and calm manner, we must also seek accountability...We must hold the Chinese vessel responsible for the injury inflicted on our troops," she added. —with Hana Bordey/KBK, GMA Integrated News