MANILA – The Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines Zhou Zhiyong met with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to convey China’s “strong dissatisfaction” and “firm opposition” to the Philippines’ side of the story about the latest incident between China Coast Guard and Philippine vessels undergoing a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.
In a statement by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, it confirms the meeting between DCM Zhou and DFA Assistant Secretary Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau on Monday.
In the said meeting, Zhou conveyed its “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition of the Chinese side to the Philippine side over its vessels’ intruding the waters of what it calls Ren’ai Jiao on October 22 and stressed that “Ren’ai Jiao is part of China’s Nansha Qundao and China’s territory.”
Zhou reiterated that the Philippines need to “seriously take China’s grave concerns, honor its promise, stop making provocations at sea, stop making dangerous moves, and stop groundlessly attacking and slandering China.”
The Chinese official also mentioned that the Philippines should “tow away the illegally grounded warship” as soon as possible so as not to jeopardize the peace and stability of the South China Sea and the common interests of countries in the region.
On Sunday morning, a Chinese vessel collided with a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) chartered boat tasked to deliver supplies for Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal.
According to the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), the incident happened at 0604H Sunday morning, when a China Coast Guard vessel (CCGV 5203) made “dangerous blocking maneuvers” causing it to collide with an AFP-contracted indigenous resupply boat Unaiza May 2 (UM2), which “imperiled the safety of the crew of UM2.”
Despite the incident, the NTF-WPS confirms that the routine Rotation and Resupply (RORE) mission has successfully delivered supplies to Filipino troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre by a second Philippine vessel, the Unaiza May 1 (UM1).
DFA also released a statement, saying that it is “our resolve to continue pursuing our mandate of protecting and upholding the country’s legal maritime entitlements remains firm.”
The DFA also mentions that they are making full use of diplomatic processes and are exercising all possible actions available, including summoning the Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission.
As of October 23, there are now 55 diplomatic protests filed against China since January 2023. There are 465 diplomatic protests lodged since January 2020, and under the Marcos administration, there are now 122 diplomatic protests filed against China.
It added that Ayungin Shoal is part of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, and have sovereign rights and jurisdiction over it, and under UNCLOS, has the right to carry out legitimate activities in its maritime zones and reiterates that the Philippines “do not accept any form of interference”.
