President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to express 'serious concern' over the continuous actions of China against personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Filipino fishermen.
This was confirmed by the President Communications Office (PCO) in a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon.
"Ngayong araw, nakipagpulong si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. kay Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian upang makipag-usap tungkol sa sitwasyon sa pagitan ng China at Philippine Coast Guard at ng mga Pilipinong mangingisda sa West Philippine Sea," it said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Manila, in a separate statement, also confirmed the meeting between the two officials.
“They exchanged views on how to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen dialogue and communication, and properly manage maritime differences between China and the Philippines,” it said.
The meeting comes after the PCG reported earlier this week that a Chinese vessel directed a "military-grade laser light" toward a PCG vessel supporting a rotation and resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal last February 6.
This resulted in the temporary blindness of their crew at the bridge, prompting the country to file another diplomatic protest against China.
Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez likewise denounced the action, calling it "offensive" and "unsafe."
According to the DFA, the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard against the Philippine vessel “constituted a threat” to the country’s “sovereignty and security as a state, and are infringements of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone."
“The Philippines has the prerogative to conduct legitimate activities within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. China does not have law enforcement rights or powers in and around Ayungin Shoal or any part of the Philippine EEZ," the DFA said in a statement.
The United States has declared support for the Philippines, a long-time defense ally, against harassment.
"The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of the People's Republic of China (PR) Coast Guard's reported use of laser device against the crew of a Philippine Coast Guard ship on February 6 in the South China Sea," the US Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement.
It said that the act committed by CCG was "provocative" and "unsafe" as this caused temporary blindness to the crew members of BRP Malapascua.
