MANILA, Philippine: The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday, revealing that it had summoned a senior official from the Chinese embassy in Manila to address concerns regarding the “harassment of Philippine vessels” in the South China Sea.
According to the statement, Manila protested against various aggressive actions, including harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing, and blocking, reportedly carried out by China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels against Filipino government vessels. The incident, which occurred on April 30 near the China-controlled Scarborough Shoal, resulted in damage to a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel and a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) boat.
The Philippines demanded that Chinese vessels vacate the area immediately and cease their aggressive actions, particularly the use of water cannons, which caused damage to the PCG and BFAR vessels.
While the Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian justified the actions of the China Coast Guard, stating that they took “necessary measures” against Philippine vessels infringing on Beijing’s territory. Lin emphasized that the actions were conducted in accordance with the law and handled professionally.
This incident adds to the longstanding territorial disputes between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea and underscores the tensions surrounding maritime activities in the region. It coincides with a major annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States, further exacerbating tensions with Beijing.
