PH to file another diplomatic protest against China

Department of Foreign Affairs. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega guarantees that the Philippines will file a diplomatic protest against China over its latest incursion in the West Philippine Sea.

De Vega, in a radio interview, said it is a Philippine standard practice to file a protest against incursions in its territory.

In 2023 alone, the country has filed 54 diplomatic protests against China.

“I-che-check ko [kung nag file na] pero for sure we will kasi standard ‘yan mag file at alam na ng China ang position natin. Palagi nating hinihingi na [sundin] ang ruling ng international tribunal para sa [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea],” said de Vega over Radyo 630.

(I will check [if we have already filed], but for sure we will because it is standard to file and China already knows our position. We always demand to [follow] the ruling of the international tribunal for the [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea].)

To recall, a China Coast Guard ship on Sunday rammed two boats used by the Philippine Navy for a resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed on Ayungin Shoal.

China, on the other hand, claimed that Philippine vessels “ignored” its repeated warnings, adding that the Philippine maritime assets trespassed into the waters of Ayungin Shoal, which it called Ren’ai Reef.

Meanwhile, de Vega said the Philippines “will not imitate” the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. He said the country will continue to assert its sovereignty over the territory by means of “firm protestations.”

“Ang gagamitin natin ay diplomasya. Tuluy-tuloy at ang ating firm protestations. Hindi lang Department of Foreign Affairs, iba-iba. Naririnig natin ang Department of National Defense [maging ang] Philippine Coast Guard magsalita. So we will do it,” said de Vega.

(What we will use is diplomacy. Our firm protests continue. Not just the Department of Foreign Affairs, but different agencies as well. We hear the Department of National Defense [even the] Philippine Coast Guard speak. So we will do it.)

Ayungin is a low-tide elevation about 194 kilometers off Palawan province, well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

READ: PH has filed 34 diplomatic protests against China in 2023 — DFA

READ: Zubiri condemns China’s dangerous maneuvers in West PH Sea

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