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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA: 241 diplomatic protests filed vs China, so far under Marcos

DFA: 241 diplomatic protests filed vs China, so far under Marcos

Published Sep 20, 2025 11:07 am
A man holds the flags of China and the Philippines. (AP Photo)
A man holds the flags of China and the Philippines. (AP Photo)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has already filed a total of 241 diplomatic protests under the Marcos administration versus China’s aggressive actions in the Philippine-claimed parts of the South China Sea.

In a message to reporters, DFA said that 241 protests have been filed as of Sept. 18 this year from July 1, 2022, the day President Marcos took office.

This comes after the DFA filed a diplomatic protest against China after its Coast Guard water cannoned a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel in Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) on Sept 16.

The National Maritime Council (NMC) and several members of the diplomatic community also protested the latest aggression in the shoal, pointing out the need for China to adhere to international maritime laws and the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal.

“The Philippines condemns the latest illegal and hostile actions of China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BAR) vessel engaged in a lawful and routine humanitarian mission near Bajo de Masinloc (BDM),” the NMC said in a statement a day after the incident.

“These illegal and hostile actions by the Chinese vessels caused structural and electrical damage to BRP Datu Gumbay Piang and injury to one of the Filipino crew members. Despite the damage caused, the crew of BRP Datu Gumbay Piang was able to successfully maneuver the vessel to safety and continued its humanitarian mission,” it added.

Foreign envoys from the United States, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the European Union also condemned China’s actions, urging it to respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other relevant international agreements and conventions.

This isn’t the first time China has water cannoned BFAR vessels. Incidents were also reported early last year that Chinese vessels used water cannons against Philippine sea vessels conducting regular and routine missions in the Ayungin and Scarborough Shoals.

Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, including maritime features inside its neighbors exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Scarborough Shoal sits 124 nautical miles away from Luzon island, while it is around 472 nautical miles from China’s nearest landmass, the Hainan Island.

Related Tags

China diplomatic protest DFA Scarborough Shoal President Marcos
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