The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed extreme concern over China Coast Guard's (CCG) "excessive and unlawful actions" when it deployed water cannon against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels near Ayungin Shoal.
A CCG warship halted and fired water cannons against PCG vessel when it was en route to Ayungin Shoal for a normal troop rotation and resupply mission (RORE).
In a statement, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said that the CCG vessel committed an illegal act as it did not consider the safety of individuals on board.
He said the action was "in wanton disregard of the safety of the people on board and in violation of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
The "dangerous" activities of the CCG were also denounced by the PCG.
The PCG told the CCG to restrain its forces, respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, refrain from impeding freedom of navigation, and take appropriate actions against those involved in the incident.
The highest national military institutions in China, the Central Military Commission and the CCG, were instructed to "act with caution and responsibility in their actions to prevent mistakes and accidents that will endanger people's lives".
