THE Philippines sent a note verbale or diplomatic protest to China last week in response to its latest act of aggression against Filipino troops in the West Philippine Sea, Foreign Affairs chief Enrique Manalo said yesterday.
Manalo was referring to the June 17 incident when Chinese coast guard personnel wielding bladed weapons blocked and foiled an attempt by the Philippine Navy to resupply troops stationed on the grounded ship BRP Sierra Madre that at the Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal.
Several Filipino troops were hurt in the incident, including one whose thumb was severed.
Footage released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines also showed the Chinese personnel looting items and damaging the rigid hull inflatable boats of the Filipino troops, including its communication and navigational equipment.
Manalo made the announcement during the 2024 International Media Conference of the EastWest Center.
A diplomatic protest is an outright formal expression of displeasure or disagreement towards another country’s action, with the aim of urging that government to halt or change its policy or violation.
Manalo said he “also spoke” with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian about the incident but he did not provide the details of their conversation.
Last month, the DFA also filed a diplomatic protest over China’s imposition of a four-month long fishing moratorium in parts of the South China Sea, saying such a move violates international laws and raises tension in the disputed waters.
Last year, the DFA lodged 66 diplomatic protests against Beijing.
The DFA has filed over 150 diplomatic protests over China’s aggressive actions at sea under the administration of President Marcos. Of those, over 20 were lodged since the start of 2024 alone.
During a Senate hearing Tuesday, Manalo said Manila still believed in the primacy of dialogue and diplomacy even amid the latest incident, the most serious such incident involving Filipino and Chinese personnel in the disputed waters.
The Ayungin Shoal, which China calls Ren’ai Reef, is located just 105 nautical miles west of Palawan.
It is within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone and is part of its continental shelf, while the nearest Chinese landmass in the area, Hainan island, is around 1, 000 kilometers away.
ACCURATE REPORTING
Manalo called for transparency and accurate reporting as he said that for far too long, the “narrative surrounding the West Philippine Sea has been obscured by disinformation and cyberattacks targeting the Philippine government’s IT infrastructure.”
Last month, the department cautioned the public against falling for false narratives on the West Philippine Sea issue, following the release of a transcript of an alleged phone conversation between the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Command chief and a Chinese official over Ayungin Shoal.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said then that the department is working to counter Chinese disinformation campaign using “facts and strategic communications,” adding Beijing is doing this as part of its strategy to sow doubts in the minds of the Filipinos.
Manalo said one such false narrative paint the Philippines as just a mere pawn in a power rivalry in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea and that Manila acted only at the behest of the United States, its closest ally with which it has an existing Mutual Defense Treaty which says both countries will come to each other’s aid in case of an armed attack or invasion.
Washington reiterated its commitment under the MDT to come to Manila’s aid in the wake of the June 17 Ayungin Shoal incident.
“This reductionist view muddles our understanding of the complex situation on the ground and detracts from the real crux of the issue: that a country is choosing to ignore international law, in particular the UNCLOS as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the legitimate rights and interests of coastal states, such as the Philippines,” Manalo said, referring to China.
China has refused to abide by or honor the arbitral ruling and is insisting on its sweeping claim in the South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line which the arbitral tribunal has rejected.
Manalo said despite this, Manila has championed, and will always do so, the rule of law in its claim.
“Maritime claims in the South China Sea cannot go beyond UNCLOS. No single country can claim almost the entirety of the South China Sea as its territory,” he added.
STOP HARASSMENT
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, who spoke at the same event, called on China to “cease harassment and interference” in the West Philippine Sea.
She urged Beijing to abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling that said its massive claim in the South China Sea has no legal or historical basis.
China has defended the action of its coast guard against Filipino troops on resupply run to Ayungin Shoal, as it accused the latter of intruding into its territorial waters.
Carlson touted the strength of the US-Philippines alliance saying the “bilateral relationship and strong partnerships in the region are key to achieving our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
TALKS
The National Security Council (NSC) said it is “very hopeful” the tension between the Philippines and China will be deescalated by ongoing talks between the two sides.
“The purpose of the negotiations or whatever engagement that we are doing with China is to lower the tensions and to deescalate the tensions,” NSC Assistant Director General and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said in a radio interview.
Malaya said the government is focused on lowering the tension following the June 17 incident.
“It’s not good for the Philippines, it’s not good for China and for the entire international community if we cannot lower the tension,” he said.
“We have a feeling at the NSC that China also wants to deescalate the situation,” said added.
Asked to elaborate, Malaya said he would not want to preempt the Department of the Foreign Affairs, implying that DFA officials are leading the talks to deescalate the tensions.
“There are official and unofficial channels being used to find common ground and solution to this problem,” said Malaya.
He said China’s “acts of piracy” during the June 17 incident was witnessed by people worldwide, causing a “severe blow” to China’s image.
“We are very hopeful that we are doing will bear fruit and deescalate the tensions in the West Philippine Sea,” said Malaya.
He said it is the responsibility of any government to deescalate tension.
“It is not good if the tensions will continue to escalate. That might lead to war between the Philippines and China,” he said.
Acknowledging questions on the sincerity of China in past discussions, Malaya said “that does not mean we should stop talking.”
RESUPPLY MISSIONS
Malaya said the Philippines will continue to resupply its troops at Ayungin Shoal and adjustments will be made in the next missions. He declined to say the specific changes for “national security consideration.”
“We can do air drops; we can do other means. We have other means available on how to resupply our troops there… We are not going to going to abandon BRP Sierra Madre,” he said.
“The commitment of the President and of the government is very clear: RoRe missions will continue and we are going to be intimidated. China wants us to be intimidated. We are not going to be intimidated. RoRe missions will continue notwithstanding the Chinese Coast Guard’s aggressive actions and illegal use of force,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaya also lashed out at the militant group Bayan and other militant groups for calling on the Armed Forces to demilitarize the West Philippine Sea.
“This dramatic and blanket call for demilitarization of the West Philippine Sea favors China more because it calls on all military forces to leave the West Philippine Sea,” he said in a statement.
“Why call on the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are deployed to the nine occupied features of the Philippines to leave?” he also said, adding the Philippine military is just doing its job of securing the country’s territorial integrity and protecting Filipino fishermen.
NO US TROOPS
Malaya said call of militant groups for the US to leave WPS is also misplaced because the Americans have no troops deployed in the area.
Malaya said the US presence in the area is only in relation to freedom of navigation operations which he said is allowed under international law.
“If the AFP leaves the WPS and the US Navy stops its freedom of navigation operations, who does that favor? China definitely. That will embolden China more. Bayan has to be more circumspect because they are falling into the trap of the Chinese Communist Party,” said Malaya.
Malaya said Bayan should ask China instead to leave WPS because it is the one causing increased tension in the area, noting the June 17 harassment.
Meanwhile, American maritime expert Ray Powell yesterday said China’s “monster” ship was seen anew near Scarborough Shoal, about 124 nautical miles from Zambales. China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels.
The 12,000-ton, 165-meter vessel was seen at Ayungin Shoal and Escoda Shoal last Monday and near Pag-asa Island last June 19. Last month, it was also seen near Scarborough Shoal.
Powell said the vessel was monitored to be one to two nautical miles of the shoal at around 7 a.m. yesterday.
He said Scarborough Shoal was the Chinese vessel’s “final visit in its intrusive patrol of the Philippine exclusive economic zone.” — With Victor Reyes
