DFA SUMMONS CHINESE ENVOY AFTER LATEST CHINA AGRESSION IN AYUNGIN

THE Department of Foreign Affairs summoned the Charge d’affaires, a.i. of the Chinese Embassy on Monday to convey the Philippines’ strong 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 on March 23, 2024.

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has also been instructed to lodge the same demarche with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

“In these demarches, the Philippines stressed, among others, that China has no right to be in Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation that lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS and as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA statement read. 

According to the DFA, China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable. It infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

“The Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and the Philippine exclusive economic zone immediately,” it said.

“The Philippines has made sincere efforts to implement the instruction of President Marcos and President Xi to lower tensions,” it added.

The DFA said China’s aggressive actions call into question its sincerity in lowering the tensions and promoting peace and stability in the South China Sea.

“Even as the Philippines continues to engage China in dialogue and diplomacy at the bilateral and multilateral levels, China’s aggressive actions contradict and put to waste ASEAN-China efforts to promote practical activities to foster peace and cooperation in the region,” the DFA statement read.

“The Philippines urges China to take the correct track of abiding by international law and respecting the legitimate rights of other states like the Philippines, and to cease and desist from its continued violation of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” it said.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said China’s actions contradict its earlier calls for peaceful dialogue to end the dispute in the WPS.

“Kung talagang gusto nila, kung talaga siguro hindi sila natatakot na ihayag sa buong mundo ang kanilang claim bakit hindi tayo magarbitrate sa ilalim ng international law para maliwanag sa lahat kung ano ang karapatan ng kahit sino, bakit ayaw nila? Pagkatapos pag nahuhuli sila sa mga hindi tamang sinasabi nila, ayan na magbabanta, tama ba yun? Teodoro said in a press briefing.

Teodoro said the Philippines can only be rightfully accused of doing provocative actions if it is doing these within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of other nations.

“Hindi naman tayo ang nambubuyo dito eh. Ano bang pambubuyo ang ginawa natin? Kung ginawa natin ito within their 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone sa may Hainan island, ‘yun ang probokasyon, eh dito nila ginagawa eh,” he added.

Teodoro also described as insulting Beijing’s claims that Manila’s actions in the WPS are influenced of other nations.

“Ito’y napakalaking insulto sa atin mga kababayan, kinukunan ka nga ng teritoryo sinasabi ikaw pa ay sunod-sunuran sa ibang bansa. Doble, sinipa ka na tapos sinuntok ka pa,” said Teodoro.

According to him, China is encroaching on Philippine territory and using its expansive claims on the South China Sea, which is not believed by any country in the world, as a justification for doing so.