China spurned the diplomatic protest filed by the Philippines, in connection with its recent actions in the West Philippine Sea, warning that it would continue despite Manila’s complaint arising from the latest China Coast Guard (CCG) cannon attack and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels.
The Chinese embassy in Manila said it found nothing wrong when CCG blocked the path of a Philippine vessel and attacked the latter with a water cannon. The blockade led to a collision, which CCG described as just “mild” as well as the injury of four Filipino crew.
China made the statement after Chinese Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong was summoned on Tuesday to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to shed light on the latest actions by the CCG in the West Philippine Sea.
“The embassy pointed out that the relevant Philippine vessels intruded into the waters adjacent to the Ren’ai Jiao of China’s Nansha Islands without the permission of the Chinese government,” that was why it made the attack, the embassy’s statement stressed.
“China Coast Guard took necessary regulatory actions on the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law. The response of China Coast Guard was professional, restrained, reasonable and lawful,” the statement stated.
The Chinese embassy also said the Philippines “reneged on its commitments to China” as well as “provoked incidents in the waters off the Ren’ai Jiao, and seriously violated China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
“China once again urges the Philippines to stop maritime provocations and refrain from taking any actions that may complicate the maritime situation,” the embassy added.
Its coast guard said the Philippines was only sensationalizing the incident and doing provocative actions “with extortion activities.”
“China will continue to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with domestic and international law,” the embassy stressed.
CCG said the Philippines “must bear full responsibility” for the incident.
Four Filipino crew of a PCG vessel were injured following a dangerous maneuver committed by China’s coast guard against its Philippine counterpart, which eventually led to a collision.
According to the embassy, China’s position on the issue of the Ren’ai Jiao is “consistent and clear”.
“Over the past few months, China and the Philippines maintained communication on properly managing the situation on the Ren’ai Jiao,” it said.
“China once again urges the Philippines to stop maritime provocations and refrain from taking any actions that may complicate the maritime situation. China will continue to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with domestic and international law,” it added.
The incident took place as PCG vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Sindagan were deployed to support the Rotation and Reprovisioning Operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The DFA summoned on Tuesday the Chinese ambassador to protest the aggressive and dangerous moves undertaken by the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia against a Philippine routine resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal.
During the meeting, the DFA condemned China’s “interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone,” calling their actions “unacceptable.”
The DFA said China’s actions Tuesday morning in Ayungin Shoal, also known internationally as Second Thomas Shoal, “infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”
A strongly-worded diplomatic protest was handed by Deputy Assistant Secretary Raphael Hermoso to China’s Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong. In the diplomatic note, the DFA demanded all Chinese vessels to immediately leave the shoal’s vicinity.
The tense confrontation between Philippine and Chinese vessels occurred near Ayungin Shoal, where a World War II-era vessel, the BRP Sierra Madre, has been grounded since 1999.
The ship serves as a Philippine military outpost and has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty.
Ayungin is 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan and constitutes part of the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as provided under a United Nations convention.
The Philippines decided in 1999 to deploy a permanent station on Ayungin Shoal in response to China’s illegal occupation of Panganiban Reef, also known as Mischief Reef, a Philippine territory, in 1995.
“Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf,” the DFA told the summoned Chinese diplomat.