China responded to 71% of PH protests over sea dispute — DFA

Some of the about 220 Chinese vessels reported by the Philippine Coast Guard, and believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, are pictured at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea, March 7, 2021. (Picture taken March 7, 2021. Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea/Handout via REUTERS)

MANILA, Philippines — China responded to 71 percent of  the Philippines’ diplomatic protests over Beijing’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.

“We were informed that for the period 2020, to end [December] 2022, about 71% of our NVs (note verbales)/protests were responded to by the Chinese Embassy,” DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza told members of the media.

The Philippines has filed 461 diplomatic protests against China since 2016.

Of the figure, 262 were lodged from 2016 to 2021, 195 in 2022, and four this year.

In 2016, the Philippines won the arbitration case against China.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that the Philippines has sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea, invalidating Beijing’s nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea.

Despite the ruling, however, Filipino fishermen still report cases of harassment by the Chinese coast guard within in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

 gsg