The Philippines protested the latest "aggressive activities" of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) against a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel which was at the receiving end of a "blinding" military-grade laser light off Ayungin Shoal.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) filed a diplomatic protest on Tuesday, Feb. 14, condemning "the shadowing, harassment, dangerous maneuvers, directing of military-grade laser, and illegal radio challenges by CCG vessel 5205 against PCG vessel BRP Malapascua on 6 February 2023."
It asserted that the actions of the Chinese vessel against the PCG vessel constituted a threat to Philippine sovereignty and security as a state, and were infringements of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone.
“The Philippines has the prerogative to conduct legitimate activities within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. China does not have law enforcement rights or powers in and around Ayungin Shoal or any part of the Philippine EEZ,” DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said.
"These acts of aggression by China are disturbing and disappointing as it closely follows the state visit to China of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in early January during which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to manage maritime differences through diplomacy and dialogue, without resorting to force and intimidation.” Daza said.
Daza also called on China to "comply with its obligations under international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Award in the South China Sea Arbitration and direct its vessels to cease and desist from its aggressive activities against Philippine vessels.”
The diplomatic protest has brought to eight the note verbale filed by the DFA this year while a total of 195 diplomatic protests were lodged in 2022.
BRP Malapascua was undertaking a mission in support of the regular rotation and resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, the Philippines’ permanent presence on the feature.
According to the PCG, CCG 5205 interfered with the PCG mission, directing a military-grade laser that caused temporary blindness to Filipino crew members aboard BRP Malapascua.
The Chinese vessel then undertook dangerous maneuvers by approaching at a close distance from BRP Malapascua, risking a collision that endangered the Philippine crew. The Chinese vessel also issued illegal radio challenges that demanded that the Philippine vessel leave the area.
China, on the other hand, justified its action, saying that the PCG vessel intruded into the waters off the Ren’ai Reef without Chinese permission.
“In accordance with China’s domestic law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the China Coast Guard ship upheld China’s sovereignty and maritime order and acted in a professional and restrained way,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.
READ MORE: China alleges PCG vessel intruded Chinese waters; justifies beaming laser light