MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned on Thursday an official of the Chinese Embassy regarding the latest incident of harassment on Philippine vessels conducting routine and regular humanitarian mission near Scarborough Shoal, locally called Bajo de Masinloc, last April 30, 2024.
In a statement released by the DFA, it confirmed that Zhou Zhiyong, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of China here in Manila, was summoned over the incident involving China’s coast guard vessels and the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels near the contested waters.
The DFA also wanted to personally deliver the Philippines’ protest on “the harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing and blocking, dangerous maneuvers, use of water cannons, and other aggressive actions of China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels against the vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)”, the statement read.
DFA pointed out China’s aggressive actions, particularly its water cannon use, which caused damage to the vessels of PCG and BFAR.
“The Philippines demanded that Chinese vessels leave Bajo de Masinloc and its vicinity immediately,” the DFA said.
Courtesy of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
In a statement, the PCG said that during the patrol, the Philippine vessels encountered “dangerous maneuvers and obstructions from four CCG vessels and six Chinese maritime militia vessels.”
One of the vessels was struck by water cannon from one of the CCG ships about 12 nautical miles (22km) from the shoal, while the PCG vessel was hit by water cannon fired by two of the CCG ships when it was about 1,000 yards (914 metres) away from the shoal, PCG said.
The incident resulted to damage to the railing and canopy of the vessel.
In the same statement, the PCG also revealed that CCG reinstalled a 380-meter (416-yard) barrier across the entrance to the shoal — a traditional fishing ground — blocking access to the waters inside.
China first installed the barrier last year, but the Philippines removed it in September as it breached international maritime law.
Meanwhile, China’s coast guard said that the vessels had been “expelled” but did not provide further details.
During the regular press briefing of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, it said that “China’s coast guard took necessary measures in line with the law to firmly expel them.”
"China urges the Philippine side to immediately stop its provocative acts of infringement and do not challenge China's firm determination to safeguard its sovereignty," said Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
