Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday summoned China’s ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, over China’s increasingly aggressive actions against Philippine coast guard personnel and Filipino fishermen. serious concern over the increasingly frequent and intense actions.
“The President summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian this (Tuesday) afternoon to express serious concern over China’s increasingly frequent and intense actions against the Philippine Coast Guard and our Filipino fishermen, the most recent of which was our Coast Guard ships deploy military-grade lasers.”
In a separate statement, the Chinese embassy in Manila said Marcos and Huang “exchanged views on how to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen dialogue and communication, and properly handle maritime differences between China and the Philippines.”
Also in attendance were Undersecretary of Defense Carlito Galvez, Minister of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, Attorney General Menardo Guevarra and Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo this meeting.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs claimed that the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard posed a threat to the sovereignty and security of the Philippines and violated the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone.
Earlier in the day, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokeswoman Teresita Daza said the so-called “aggressive act” was “disturbing and disappointing” as it came on the heels of the Marcos It happened after the president’s visit to China in January this year. At the time, the two leaders agreed to manage maritime differences through diplomacy and dialogue.
Moreover, during their visit to China, the leaders of the two countries agreed to establish a “direct communication line” on the South China Sea issue to prevent any misinformation between the two sides.
The Philippines accused China of firing lasers, and China said it had communicated through the mechanism
[Philippines Net News] Agence France-Presse reporter: The Philippine coast guard accused a Chinese coast guard ship of firing a laser at a Philippine ship. The Philippine side said today that it has lodged a diplomatic protest with the Chinese embassy in the Philippines. Has China received any protest from the Philippine side? How will respond?
Wang Wenbin: We have introduced relevant facts and China’s principled position before. We would like to emphasize again that the China Coast Guard operates professionally and restrainedly, and the situation you mentioned does not exist.
China and the Philippines have communicated on this through the maritime communication mechanism established by the foreign ministries of the two countries. At present, the relevant sea area is generally calm.
We also want to point out that the South China Sea arbitration case by the Philippines was concocted by the United States. It is a political farce. The so-called award is illegal and invalid, and will not have any impact on China’s claims in the South China Sea. The United States frequently uses the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to coerce and blackmail China. This will not shake China’s firm determination and strong will to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
Philippines, US, Australia protest China’s “laser targeting”
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government on Tuesday launched a diplomatic protest against China’s activities near Second Thomas Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, including “dangerous sea travel” and the use of military-grade lasers on Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels.
In a statement, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokeswoman Teresita Daza said the so-called “aggressive act” was both “disturbing and disappointing” as it came on the heels of President Jr. It happened after Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. visited China in January this year.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said it had submitted a note verbale to the Chinese embassy in Manila on Tuesday.
The diplomatic note condemns the stalking, harassment, dangerous maneuvers, guidance of military-grade lasers, and illegal radio challenges by Chinese Coast Guard Vessel 5205 against Philippine Coast Guard BRP Malapascua on February 6.
The Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard constituted a threat to the national sovereignty and security of the Philippines and violated the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone.
“The Philippines enjoys the privilege of conducting lawful activities within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. China has no enforcement authority or authority in and around Second Thomas Shoal or any part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. We call on China to abide by its obligations under international law,” Daza said. , including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award, and directed its vessels to cease aggressive activities against Philippine vessels.”
In a separate statement, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the “provocative and unsafe” use of military-grade lasers interfered with legitimate Philippine operations in and around Second Thomas Shoal.
He said: “It is reported that the Chinese Coast Guard used laser equipment on the crew of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel in the South China Sea on February 6. China’s dangerous actions directly threaten regional peace and stability and violate the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea guaranteed by international law. , to undermine the rules-based international order. The United States stands with our Philippine allies.”
According to China News Agency, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference on the 13th that the Philippine coast guard ship trespassed into the waters of Ren’ai Reef without China’s permission. Operate professionally and with restraint.
A reporter asked about the “Philippine coast guard accusing a Chinese coast guard ship of firing a laser at a Philippine ship”. Wang Wenbin pointed out that Ren’ai Jiao is part of China’s Nansha Islands. On February 6, a Philippine Coast Guard ship trespassed into the waters off Ren’ai Reef without China’s permission. The Chinese coast guard ships safeguard China’s sovereignty and maritime order in accordance with China’s domestic laws and international laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the on-site operations are professional and restrained.
Wang Wenbin emphasized: “We hope that the Philippine side will earnestly respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and avoid any actions that may lead to the expansion of disputes and complicate the situation. China and the Philippines are maintaining communication on this through diplomatic channels.”
In another tweet, Australia’s ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu also expressed concern about China’s “insecure and intimidating” actions.
“We continue to call for peace, stability and respect for international law in this vital international waterway in the South China Sea,” she said.
The Philippine Coast Guard reported on Monday that BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) was supporting the Philippine Navy’s rotation and resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal when the incident occurred.
The Philippine Coast Guard stated that when the BRP Malapascua reached a distance of 10 nautical miles from Second Thomas Shoal, the Chinese coast guard ship was conducting surveillance activities at a distance of about four nautical miles. The Chinese ship fired a green laser twice at the BRP Malapascua in the Philippines, temporarily blinding the crew on the bridge. The Chinese vessel also made a dangerous maneuver, approaching about 150 yards from the starboard side of the vessel. “
Since 2022, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has submitted 203 notes verbales against China, eight of which were submitted this year.
Philippine Coast Guard Commander Artemio Abu said they would “continue to do their duty to protect the territorial integrity of the country from foreign aggression.”
“Despite the dangerous maneuvers and aggressive actions at sea by larger Chinese Coast Guard vessels, Philippine Coast Guard vessels will always maintain our presence and assert our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea,” he said in a statement. “
Source: Mil Sohu News
