THE Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it lodged two new diplomatic protests against China over “dangerous” moves of Chinese Coast Guard vessels against Philippine ships in the West Philippine Sea, where maritime patrols and training exercises were being conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the continued presence of Chinese fishing and maritime militia vessels in Philippine waters.
The filing of the diplomatic protest is the latest in the escalating word war between Manila and Beijing in recent days that started in March after at least 220 Chinese vessels were monitored moored at the Julian Felipe reef, about 175 nautical miles from mainland Palawan.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. earlier vowed to file a protest every day against China until the last of its vessels leaves the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea being claimed by the Philippines.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which about $3 trillion of ship-borne trade passes each year. In 2016, an arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled the claim, which Beijing bases on its old maps, was inconsistent with international law.
Since 2016 when President Duterte took office, the Philippines has filed 78 diplomatic protests with China, including about 10 since last March when the intrusion of the 200 plus Chinese vessels was reported.
Duterte for the most part has pursued warmer ties with China in exchange for Beijing’s promises of billions of dollars in investment, aid and loans. While he still considers China “a good friend,” he said last week: “There are things that are not really subject to a compromise.”
The DFA said the presence of hundreds of Chinese boats inside the Philippines 200-mile exclusive economic zone is “illegal.”
“The DFA has protested the shadowing, blocking, dangerous maneuver, and radio challenges by the Chinese Coast Guard of Philippine Coast Guard vessels conducting legitimate maritime patrols and training exercises in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc on April 24 and 25, 2021,” the DFA said in a statement.
The DFA also said it protested the “incessant, illegal, prolonged and increasing” presence of Chinese fishing vessels and maritime militia vessels in Philippine maritime zones.
“Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies monitored the continued unauthorized presence and activities of hundreds of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the area around the Pag-asa islands, Zamora Reef, Kota, Panata, Ayungin Shoal, Quirino atoll and Bajo de Masinloc,” the DFA said.
Bajo de Masinloc is also known as Scarborough Shoal and Panatag Shoal.
In the same protest, the DFA rejected the statement of the Chinese foreign ministry that it enjoys sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc, adding the claim is “without basis” in international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, and that its claim is not recognized by the international community.
It said the Kalayaan island group and Bajo de Masinloc are an “integral part” of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction and as such the PCG has the right to conduct maritime patrols and exercises in those areas.
The DFA said these maritime patrols and exercises in those areas is a legitimate and sovereign act of a country in its territory and territorial waters.
“China has no law enforcement rights in these areas. The presence of Chinese vessels in the Philippines’ territorial waters off Pag-asa islands and Bajo de Masinloc, and exclusive economic zones, raises serious concern. The unauthorized and lingering presence of these vessels is a blatant infringement of Philippines sovereignty,” the DFA said.
The DFA asked China to pull out its vessels around the Kalayaan island group and Bajo de Masinloc and respect Philippine sovereignty.”
The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea earlier said that while most of the Chinese vessels moored near the Julian Felipe reef have already left the area following a flurry of diplomatic protests by Manila, a large number of them remain scattered in other parts of the West Philippine Sea.
Locsin demanded in an expletive-laced message on Twitter that China’s vessels get out of disputed waters, marking the latest exchange in a war of words with Beijing over its activities in the South China Sea.
“China, my friend, how politely can I put it? Let me see… O…GET THE FUCK OUT,” Locsin said in a tweet on his personal account.
“What are you doing to our friendship? You. Not us. We’re trying. You. You’re like an ugly oaf forcing your attentions on a handsome guy who wants to be a friend; not to father a Chinese province…”, Locsin said.
China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chinese officials have previously said the vessels at the disputed Whitsun Reef were fishing boats taking refuge from rough seas.
On Sunday, the Philippines vowed to continue maritime exercises in its exclusive economic zone in response to a China demand that it stop actions it said could escalate disputes.
“Our statements are stronger too because of the more brazen nature of the activities, the number, frequency and proximity of intrusions,” Marie Yvette Banzon-Abalos, executive director for strategic communications at the DFA.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the country’s s cordial relationship with China is not at the expense of sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. — With Victor Reyes and Reuters
