The Philippines has lodged another diplomatic protest against China over its activities in the Ayungin Shoal, which lies inside the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.
In a statement, DFA emphasized its protests against China which stemmed from illegal fishing, its Chinese coast guard vessels shadowing Philippine boats on a resupply mission and blocking of the shoal's entrance.
“The 2016 Arbitral Award affirmed that Ayungin Shoal is within Philippine EEZ and continental shelf. China has no right to fish, monitor, or interfere with the Philippines’ legitimate activities therein,” the DFA said.
"China has no right to fish, monitor, or interfere with the Philippines' legitimate activities therein," it added.
It is the second diplomatic protest filed by the DFA this week against China after the former dissented on Thursday on the return of more than 100 Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Last week, the DFA also filed a protest over the East Asian giant's unilateral fishing ban which covered parts of the West Philippine Sea.
