Department of Foreign Affairs building. (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines on Wednesday filed a diplomatic protest against China anew, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Teresita Daza told INQUIRER.net.
In a text message, Daza said four diplomatic protests have so far been filed by the country against China in 2024.
“What we have are updates on the number of protests, as follows: [In] 2023 [there were] 66. [In] 2024 — four. This is as of January 24, 2024,” said Daza.
The DFA, however, has yet to detail what prompted the filing of the latest note verbale on Wednesday.
The Philippine Coast Guard, however, reported that on January 12 this year, Chinese vessels tried to drive away Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea.
PCG said the incident was witnessed by a fisherman identified as Jack Tabat who then took a video of the incident.
The Philippines and China have been in a long-running dispute after the latter pushed its sweeping claim over nearly the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
In 2013, the Philippines challenged China’s assertions before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands.
It ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016. Despite this ruling, Chinese maritime assets continue to swarm and assert its presence in the disputed area.