The Philippines and China gave contrasting positions over which one was to blame for the recent near-collision involving the Philippine and Chinese vessels in the Ayungin Shoal.
The foreign ministries of both countries aired their respective positions over the dangerous incident less than a day after reports came out—a rapid development of the incident as both sides, previously, would not immediately issue their comments.
China, through its Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning, claimed that "it was a premeditated and provocative action for the Philippine vessel to barge into the waters of Ren'ai Jiao with journalists on board."
She also claimed that the group's aim "was to deliberately find fault and take the opportunity to hype up the incident."
"The Chinese coast guard vessel safeguarded China's territorial sovereignty and maritime order, in accordance with the law, while taking timely measures to avoid the dangerous approach of Philippine vessels and to avoid a collision," Ning said, as reported by Agence France-Presse.
But the Philippines immediately refuted her pronouncement, and asserted that the country had the legal right to patrol the West Philippine Sea, where the Ayungin Shoal is located.
The West Philippine Sea is a part of the bigger South China Sea. The Philippines has the legal right over the West Philippine Sea as it is part of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
"Routine patrols in our own waters can neither be premeditated nor provocative," Ma. Teresita Daza, spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said.
"It is a legal right that we exercised and will continue to exercise," she added.
Developments as far as diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China moved fast right after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported about the dangerous move initiated by China in the Ayungin Shoal on Sunday, April 23.
The PCG said a Chinese vessel, which was three times larger than theirs, blocked the Philippine vessel conducting a routine mission in the waters. The two vessels would have collided had the commander of the Philippine vessel not stopped his ship.
"Our focal person received a call from his Chinese counterpart re[garding] this incident last April 23 at 5:56 pm. Our side informed China that it was a routine patrol and that we have every right to carry out such an activity," Daza said.
Similar incidents were also documented on April 19 being committed by China's CCG 5201 and 4202 against the Philippines BRP Malapascua en route to Ayungin Shoal, according to her.
Daza said the DFA was studying its options for its next actions.
Both President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to manage their respective countries' differences over the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.
Their foreign ministers and other diplomats have also repeatedly reaffirmed their pronouncements to maintain friendly relations despite disagreement.
But China has continued its aggressive actions in the waters, including dangerous maneuvers, laser pointing, and issuing verbal threats to fishermen, among others.