The recent Ayungin Shoal incident involving Filipino fishers and the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) will still be discussed through existing diplomatic communications as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is yet to see a fully-functional communication mechanism with its Chinese counterpart.
Ma. Teresita Daza, DFA spokesperson, said Thursday that maritime issues and incidents, which include the driving away of Filipino fishers off the Philippine waters, "will continue to be discussed" while the communication mechanism or the so-called direct line is not yet completely working.
"Internal procedures have to be put in place to make communication mechanism operational," Daza said in a press conference.
According to Daza, the new mechanism will complement the existing channels regularly used by Filipino and Chinese diplomats. It is also for "urgent" concerns.
"The communication mechanism is intended to ensure timely, effective peaceful management of urgent ongoing maritime issues or concerns of critical importance as determined by both sides on a case to case basis," Daza said.
Sending a note verbale and filing a diplomatic protest are among the diplomatic actions being taken by the Philippines with regards to concerns on the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.
Since 2016, the government has already sent a total of 262 note verbales to China. These included the 195 sent in 2022 and one in 23.
"We are committed to remaining vigilant in monitoring our waters and the South China Sea issue. We're also committed to actually ensure, following verification and assessment on an incident, we would take an appropriate diplomatic action," she said.
In a recent media interview, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said the government will still file a protest against China despite the upcoming direct line.
"It does not preclude us from continuing to make protests and continuing to send note verbales concerning this," she added.