The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has filed a diplomatic protest against China after it collided with a resupply boat of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and a patrol vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the Ayungin Shoal.
DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said that the Philippines is taking all possible actions that are appropriate including calling the Chinese ambassador yesterday morning.
However, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xillian was not in the country and was only represented by the embassy’s deputy chief of mission who met with Assistant Secretary for Asia Pacific Affairs Aileen Mendiola-Rau at the DFA.
According to Daza, he does not yet have information on what was discussed in the meeting between the two officials.
But Daza insisted, they have expressed a strong diplomatic protest and singled out the violation of the Chinese Coast Guards after colliding with the two Philippine ships.
Since 2020, the Philippines has filed a total of 465 diplomatic protests against China, of which 122 were under the Marcos administration.
The Philippines has repeatedly called on China to stop its “provocative actions”.
Meanwhile, PCG has assured that the investigation into the latest collision incident in the Ayungin Shoal between the Philippines and China will be completed within five days.
Philippines files diplomatic protest against China
According to PCG Rear Admiral Ronnie Gil Latorilla Gavan, the five-day grace period is a “self-imposed deadline” after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered an investigation into the alleged collision of a Chinese Ship with Philippine ships.
“We are looking at five days,” Gavan said when asked about the timeline of the investigation.
The President first called a command conference with all the leaders of the country’s “security authorities.” He instructed the PCG to conform the investigation to the “international maritime laws.”
“The incident, brought about by dangerous, illegal, and reckless maneuvers by vessels of the China Coast Guard, caused damage to a Philippine vessel within our exclusive economic zone and is being taken seriously at the highest level of government,” according to the PCG.
The collision occurred on Sunday as two Philippine supply ships accompanied by two PCG vessels were heading to Ayungin Shoal to deliver food and other supplies to the grounded Philippine warship BRP Sierra Madre.
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