MANILA – The Philippines expressed its “strongest protest” against the aggressive actions undertaken by the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia against the rotation and resupply (RORE) mission undertaken by the Philippines in Ayungin Shoal last Saturday, 23 March 2024.
In a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), it said that Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro had a telephone call with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong this morning.
“Undersecretary Lazaro expressed the Philippines’ strongest protest against the aggressive actions undertaken by the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia against the rotation and resupply mission undertaken by the Philippines in Ayungin Shoal on 23 March 2024,” the statement said.
According to the DFA, the same protest has also been conveyed earlier to the Charge d’affaires, a.i. of the Chinese Embassy, who was summoned by the DFA this morning. The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has also lodged the same demarche, the DFA added.
In an earlier statement, the DFA said that the demarches, among others, stresses that China has no right to be in Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation that lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS and as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award.
China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable. It infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction. The Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and the Philippine exclusive economic zone immediately, the DFA continues.
Meanwhile, DFA clarifies that the Philippines has made sincere efforts to implement the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and President Xi Jinping to lower tensions but China’s aggressive actions call into question its sincerity in lowering the tensions and promoting peace and stability in the South China Sea.
“Even as the Philippines continues to engage China in dialogue and diplomacy at the bilateral and multilateral levels, China’s aggressive actions contradict and put to waste ASEAN-China efforts to promote practical activities to foster peace and cooperation in the region,” DFA lamented.
The Philippines urges China to take the correct track of abiding by international law and respecting the legitimate rights of other states like the Philippines, and to cease and desist from its continued violation of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, the statement added.
(Photo courtesy of Department of Foreign Affairs)
DFA thanks support of international community
The DFA expressed its appreciation to the international community for their “continued expressions of support” to the Philippines and the defense of the international order based on international law.
According to the DFA, to date, some 20 countries and partners have issued statements of support, like the U.S., Japan, the European Union and others.
The DFA emphasized that it remains committed to take all appropriate diplomatic actions to protest the violation of the Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction and violations of international law, particularly UNCLOS .
The DFA also mentioned the NTF-WPS Statement of 23 March 2024, the Philippines will not be deterred by threats or hostility, from exercising its legal rights over its maritime zones, including Ayungin Shoal, which forms part of the Philippine EEZ and continental shelf.
