China has asserted its sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal and called on the Philippines to "respect" it after the latter reported the sighting of a Chinese vessel steering close to a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship in Bajo de Masinloc, Zambales earlier this month.
China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin stressed in a press conference Monday, March 28, that Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) "is China’s inherent territory."
"China has sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters," Wang said.
The foreign ministry spokesman also urged the Philippines to respect China's sovereignty and "avoid interfering" with the patrol operations of the China Coast Guard (CCG).
"We hope that the Philippine ships will earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, abide by China’s domestic law and international law, and avoid interfering with the patrol and law enforcement of the China Coast Guard in the above-mentioned waters," Wang said.
This came after the PCG reported that a CCG vessel with bow number 3305 suddenly approached and stayed approximately 21 yards from BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402) which was conducting a maritime patrol operation in Bajo de Masinloc last March 2.
The PCG called the incident a "close distance maneuvering" which constrained the maneuvering space of BRP Malabrigo. It is a "clear" violation of the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), the PCG added.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has yet to confirm whether or not a diplomatic protest has been filed against China over the recent incident.
On March 14, the DFA summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian over the People’s Liberation Army- Navy’s (PLAN’s) reported “illegal incursion” in the Sulu Sea, which happened from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, 2022.
China has defended the reported “intrusion” and said it was an “exercise of the right of innocent passage.”
READ MORE: China claims naval vessel's 'intrusion' in Sulu Sea an 'innocent passage'