The Philippines has protested anew China's recent acts of aggression against Filipino troops in the West Philippine Sea.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the Philippine government already sent a note verbale to Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian.
Despite Beijing's continued snub of Manila's protests, Manalo remains optimistic that a dialogue with China will remain fruitful "because we have the side of the law...on our side."
"We are committed to peace and stability, and we’ll do whatever we can to promote that, without sacrificing our sovereign rights and our sovereignty," he told reporters in a chance interview after he delivered his keynote speech at the 2024 International Media Conference.
On June 17, the China Coast Guard (CCG) rammed a Philippine resupply boat near the Ayungin Shoal. CCG crew also boarded the Philippine boat before confiscating the troop's firearms.
The clash led to severe injuries of Filipino troops, including dismemberment of a soldier's finger, earning widespread condemnation from the international community.