The Philippine government has protested the "prolonged presence" and "illegal activities" of Chinese vessels near Pag-asa Island and demanded their immediate pullout from the area.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, in filing the latest diplomatic protest, asserted that the country has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Pag-asa Island located in the West Philippine Sea.
"The Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a diplomatic protest yesterday against the incessant deployment, prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels in the vicinity of the Pag-asa islands, demanding that China withdraw these vessels," the DFA said in a press statement Saturday, May 29.
"The Pag-asa Islands is an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction," it added.
The latest action came after the government denounced the unlawful presence of hundreds of Chinese vessels believed to be manned by maritime militia personnel in the West Philippine Sea.
Over 200 Chinese vessels, were initially spotted in the Julian Felipe Reef last March, prompting the government to lodge a diplomatic protest. The Chinese embassy in Manila later claimed that the boats were sheltering from rough seas and that there were no militia aboard.
Some Chinese ships reportedly left the reef but others supposedly dispersed to other parts of the contested sea. The Philippines later deployed several ships to conduct sovereignty patrol the West Philippine Sea.
READ: Duterte: Dispatch of PH ships to West PH Sea does not mean war with China is imminent
Malacañang earlier left to the discretion of the DFA to decide whether or not to file protest over the reported lingering presence of Chinese vessels based on the data obtained by a United States-based technology firm.
READ: Palace says it's up to DFA to verify, protest Chinese ships' stay in West PH Sea
President Duterte has recently drawn rebuke from some groups for his alleged weak stance in asserting the country's territorial sovereignty amid the latest incursion of the Chinese vessels.
Duterte however hit back at his critics, insisting that he recognized that China remained a good friend and benefactor of the Philippines but he won't compromise the country's sovereignty over the territory. He also directed government ships to continue to patrol the West Philippine Sea to "assert what is ours" as he vowed to protect the nation's interests.
READ: West PH Sea patrols will continue 'to assert what is ours' — Duterte