PH calls Chinese diplomat to explain blocking of vessels in WPS
The Philippine government on Tuesday, March 5, asked a Chinese diplomat in Manila to explain China's blocking of path of a Philippine vessel traversing the country's territorial waters.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFDA) said it summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese embassy in Manila, Zhiyong Zhou, to convey the Philippines' protest "against the aggressive actions undertaken by the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia against the rotation and resupply mission undertaken by the Philippines in Ayungin Shoal today."
During the meeting, the Philippine government stressed that the action was a form of Chinese interference with the Philippines' routine and lawful activities in its own waters.
The Philippine government said it was "unacceptable."

"China’s actions in Ayungin Shoal infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction," it said.
The Philippine government also demanded China, through Zhiyong, to leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal "immediately."
"Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf," DFA said.
"In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award, it cannot be appropriated for sovereignty claims. International law affirms that the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the feature," it added.
On Tuesday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) released a video taken in the West Philippine Sea showing a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship blocking the path of a smaller Philippine ship as well as attacking the latter using a water cannon.
The incident took place as PCG vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Sindagan were deployed to support the Rotation and Reprovisioning Operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
"Throughout the operation, the PCG vessels faced dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Chinese Maritime Militia," Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman, said.
"Their reckless and illegal actions led to a collision between MRRV-4407 and China Coast Guard 21555 that resulted to minor structural damage to the PCG vessel," he added.