The Philippines has lodged a diplomatic protest against China's recent "illegal actions" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), including the presence of its monster ship in the area.
In a statement on Monday, Jan. 13, the National Maritime Council (NMC) disclosed that the Philippine Government has filed the protest as it objected the "continued illegal presence and activities" of Chinese maritime forces and militia within the country’s territorial sea and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
"In view of the situation, the Philippines has filed the appropriate diplomatic protest to counter China’s recent illegal actions in the WPS," NMC said.
The protest counters the illegal presence and operations of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels— CCG 5901 or dubbed as "monster ship" and CCG 3304—that were respectively detected on Jan. 5 and 10 around the waters of Bajo de Masinloc and about 70-90 nautical miles from the coastlines of the province of Zambales.
According to the NMC, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continuously challenged CCG 5901 and CCG 3304 and told them to leave the area immediately.
However, "in a provocative move, the Chinese government also deployed a People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) helicopter, which hovered above a PCG vessel that was lawfully conducting its mandate in a peaceful, non-provocative, and professional manner."
"The Philippines strongly opposes the continued illegal presence and operations of the CCG vessels, as well as the provocative actions of the PLA-N helicopter, within the country’s maritime zones," the NMC said.
"The escalatory actions of these Chinese vessels and aircraft clearly disregard Philippine and international laws, as their actions are inconsistent with the exercise of freedom of navigation and innocent passage as well as the exercise of rights and observance of duties by other States in the Philippines’ EEZ under the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling," the presidential office added.
China's actions, the NMC stressed, are clear violations of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act 12064) and international law, particularly the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling that affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its maritime zones, especially in the WPS.
It further emphasized that the Philippines has long-standing sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc and its territorial sea and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction beyond Bajo de Masinloc’s territorial sea, over waters within the Philippines’ EEZ measured from its lawful archipelagic baselines.
The Philippines also called on China to direct its vessels to desist from conducting illegal actions that violate the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its EEZ.
"The Philippines remains resolute in asserting and protecting its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the WPS, and urges China to observe Philippine laws and comply with its obligations under international law, particularly UNCLOS. China should direct its vessels to desist from conducting illegal actions that violate the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its EEZ," the NMC said.
"The Philippine government further reaffirms its commitment to continue and intensify its legitimate maritime law enforcement and patrol operations, and to safeguard and provide humanitarian support to Filipino fisherfolk in the WPS," it added.
According to PCG, CCG 5901 departed the coastline of Zambales on Jan. 8, five days after it was detected by the PCG, but another Chinese vessel, CCG 3103, was spotted heading directly to the previous location of the monster ship.