In a diplomatic note dated April 21, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the presence of China's vessels in the West Philippine Sea "blatantly infringe upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction."
The new diplomatic protest is in addition to the daily protest filed by the DFA over the presence of Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef.
A total of 160 Chinese fishing vessels and maritime militia were spotted as of April 20 in the Philippine waters.
The DFA said the vessels were observed within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone: the Kalayaan Island Group, and in and around the territorial waters of Bajo de Masinloc. Five Chinese Coast Guard vessels with bow numbers 3103, 3301, 3305, 5101, and 5203 were also seen deployed within the vicinities of the Pag-asa Island, Bajo de Masinloc, and Ayungin Shoal.
"Through these protests, the DFA reminded China that Bajo de Masinloc, Pag-asa Islands, Panata, Parola, Kota Islands, Chigua and Burgos Reefs are integral parts of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction. The Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Julian Felipe Reef and Ayungin Shoal," the statement read.
The DFA called on China to adhere to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral ruling that denigrated China's massive claim over the resource-rich South China Sea.
"The continued swarming and threatening presence of the Chinese vessels creates an atmosphere of instability and is a blatant disregard of the commitments by China to promote peace and stability in the region," the DFA added.
The Philippine government has repeatedly appeal for China to withdraw its vessels in the Philippine waters.
