By Nikolai Ordoña

The Philippines filed its eighth diplomatic protest against China on Tuesday, February 14, over its recent actions against a Filipino ship in the Ayungin Shoal within the Spratly Islands.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), their vessel, BRP Malapascua, was on a resupply mission to the military outpost BRP Sierra Madre last February 6 when a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship blocked them, demanded them to leave, and illuminated a green, military-grade laser beam twice, which then caused temporary blindness to the Filipino crew.

“The deliberate blocking of the Philippine government ships to deliver food and supplies to our military personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre is a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights in this part of the West Philippine Sea,” the PCG said.

Despite the incident, Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG adviser of the Commandant for Maritime Security, said that the delivery of food and supplies was still completed, with the vessel continuing maritime patrol.

As a formal response, the government sent a diplomatic protest to the Chinese Embassy in Manila, condemning the shadowing and harassment by the CCG vessel.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza asserted that the acts of aggression against BRP Malapascua “constituted a threat to Philippine sovereignty and security as a state, and are infringements of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone.“

Commandant Artemio Abu assured that the PCG will continue to assert the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

“We are friends”

China defended its actions, saying that the PCG was the one intruding in the Ayungin Shoal, known in China as Nansha Islands.

China Foreign Minister spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the CCG only “upheld China’s sovereignty and maritime order.”

Wang said that China hopes that the Philippines will respect China’s territorial sovereignty in the area, avoiding any actions that may “complicate the situation”.

“We are friends, and therefore, we want to be treated like friends,” he added.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration favored the Philippines, invalidating China’s nine-dash line claim that included the West Philippine Sea.

The international court ruled that the Ayungin Shoal, the area where the laser incident happened, is part of the Philippine exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Despite the decision, China has continued to assert its claim, building artificial islands and harassing Filipino fishermen and vessels in the area.

Last January, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, discussing the territorial issue and agreeing to “manage maritime differences through diplomacy and dialogue, without resorting to force and intimidation.”

The Presidential Communications Office announced that President Marcos has summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to express his serious concern to China’s dangerous actions.

Thumbnail from GMA Network