The Philippines has fired-off another diplomatic protest against China, objecting to “the shadowing, blocking, dangerous maneuver, and radio challenges by the Chinese Coast Guard [CCG] against the Philippine Coast Guard [PCG] vessels conducting maritime patrols and training exercises in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc on April 24 and 25, 2021.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also protested on Monday “the incessant, illegal, prolonged, and increasing presence of Chinese fishing vessels and maritime militia vessels in Philippine maritime zones.”
The “unauthorized and lingering presence” of these vessels is a blatant infringement of Philippine sovereignty, DFA said.
“Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies monitored the continued unauthorized presence and activities of hundreds of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea [WPS], particularly in the areas around the Pag-asa Islands, Zamora Reef, Panata and Kota Islands, Ayungin Shoal, Quirino Atoll, and Bajo de Masinloc, from January 1, to March 18, 2021,” DFA added.
In the wake of the continued presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels in our EEZ, the Philippine Navy and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also conducted joint patrols of some of the features in the WPS in late April this year.
The note verbale said it rejects the statement of the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin, who said that China enjoys sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc, or Panatag Shoal, the traditional fishing grounds of Filipino fishermen from Zambales. Earlier maps calls it Scarborough Shoal, while China named it Huangyan Island.
“It is without basis in international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [Unclos], and is not recognized by the international community,” DFA pointed out.
In April this year, the DFA said it would file a diplomatic protest daily until all of the 220 blue-hulled vessels, which were identified as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) vessels have left Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef), which is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Chinese Embassy in Manila said their ships were seeking shelter from rough seas in what they call Niu’ Ejiao, a boomerang-shaped atoll, allegedly part of the Nansha Islands. However, after leaving Julian Felipe Reef, some of the Chinese vessels remained scattered in nearby features of the WPS.
“The Kalayaan Island Group [KIG] and Bajo de Masinloc are integral parts of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction. The Philippines’ conduct of maritime patrols and training exercises in these areas is a legitimate and routine act of a sovereign country in its territory and territorial waters and is part of the Philippines’ administrative responsibility,” DFA said. “China has no law enforcement rights in these areas. The presence of Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the Philippines’ territorial waters of Pag-asa Islands and Bajo de Masinloc, and exclusive economic zone, raises serious concern.”
“The Philippines calls on China to withdraw its government vessels around the KIG and Bajo de Masinloc and respect Philippine sovereignty,” DFA added.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., tweeted: “China, my friend, how politely can I put it? Let me see… O…GET THE F… OUT. What are you doing to our friendship? You. Not us. We’re trying. You. You’re like an ugly oaf forcing your attentions on a handsome guy who wants to be a friend; not to father a Chinese province …”
“What is it so hard to understand about Duterte’s UN declaration that the Arbitral Award made all maritime features Philippines; no one else’s?,” Locsin asked in another tweet.
The award handed down by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016 invalidates China’s historic and expansive claim to the South China Sea, defined by a 9-dash line covering almost the entirety of the 3.5 million square miles of strategic waters, where an estimated $5 billion worth of trade sails through annually.
Image courtesy of DFA-ASEAN
Read full article on BusinessMirror