Philippine gov't summons Chinese diplomat anew over latest WPS incident
The Philippine government on Thursday, May 2, summoned one of China’s top diplomats in Manila to explain the latest harassment incident in the country’s waters.
The latest diplomatic action came after the China Coast Guard (CCG) fired a water cannon at Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels conducting a food resupply mission in the waters off Bajo de Masinloc on April 30.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) demanded an explanation from Zhou Ziyong, the deputy chief of mission of the Chinese Embassy in Manila, regarding the incident.
Previously, Zhou, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian, had been summoned by the Philippine government multiple times in the past to protest Beijing’s repeated harassment.
The Philippines has been using all available diplomatic means in asserting its sovereignty and sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea and its features.
But those have seemed futile. The Philippines has filed 154 diplomatic protests under the Marcos administration, 20 of which since the start of 2024.
“The Philippines protested the harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing and blocking, dangerous maneuvers, use of water cannons, and other aggressive actions of China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels,” DFA said in statement.
“China’s aggressive actions, particularly its water cannon use, caused damage to vessels of PCG and BFAR,” it added.
The Philippine government also demanded the Chinese vessels to leave Bajo de Masinloc and its vicinity immediately.