MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday summoned the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, after Beijing’s latest actions in the West Philippines Sea, according to its spokesperson Tess Daza.
“We’re exercising all actions available to us, that includes summoning the Chinese ambassador, which we did this morning,” Daza said in a press conference.
Daza, however, said that the DFA was informed that the top Chinese diplomat was out of town.
The Philippines also filed a diplomatic protest after the incident, according to Daza.
Chinese vessels hit a resupply boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the West Philippine Sea on Sunday morning.
The Philippine boats conducted a regular and routine resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
READ: China ships hit PH boats on resupply mission in West PH Sea
The commissioned Philippine Navy hosted a small contingent of military personnel since 1999 to assert Manila’s claim on the low-tide elevation about 194 kilometers (105 nautical miles) off Palawan province, well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
China’s actions are based on its assertion that it owns almost most of the South China Sea, including the WPS, though its ten-dash line used to be the nine-dash line.
In 2013, the Philippines challenged the then nine-dash line before the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
However, a 2016 Arbitral Award effectively dismissed Beijing’s sweeping demarcation.