FUJIAN, China—The Philippines demanded that Beijing halt its operations within the West Philippine Sea and comply with international law and agreements when diplomats from both sides met Monday over a back-to-back water cannon attack on Philippine vessels.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it strongly protested the "aggressive and harassing actions" made by Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and militia vessels when Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian met the country's officials after he was summoned.
"DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro verbally delivered the protest against the Chinese dangerous maneuvers that led to collision, illegal shadowing and undue use of water cannons against the rotation and resupply mission undertaken by the Philippines yesterday in the Ayungin Shoal for the Philippine Government detachment in the BRP Sierra Madre," DFA said.
On Saturday and Sunday, China's Coast Guard and militia vessels had fired water cannons on civilian ships conducting a humanitarian mission to Filipino fishermen and a resupply mission to grounded BRP Sierra Madre.
Citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award, DFA maintained that Ayungin Shoal is not an island but a low-tide elevation that is not subject to a sovereignty claim or any appropriation under law.
DFA said Ayungin is part of the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.
"Undersecretary Lazaro also emphasized that the Philippines' resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre are part of the regular operations of the Philippine Government in line with domestic and international law," DFA said.
Lazaro also stressed that China"has no right to interfere with the Philippines' legitimate activities in the Philippines’ own EEZ."
"The actions of the Chinese vessels within the Philippine EEZ are illegal and violate the freedom of navigation," DFA said.
The Philippine government then demanded China the following:
- direct the Chinese vessels to cease and desist from its illegal actions against Philippines vessels as well as stop interfering in legitimate Philippine government activities or lingering in waters around Ayungin Shoal, and doing any action that violates the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone;
- comply with obligations under international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, the 2016 Award in the South China Sea Arbitration, and the 1972 COLREGS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea); and
- adhere to its commitments under the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
DFA also protested China's conduct of dangerous maneuvers and use of water cannons against three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels, which were engaged in a humanitarian and support mission to fishermen off Bajo de Masinloc.