A protest against “aggressive actions” in the South China Sea at the weekend is being communicated by the Philippines via China’s envoy on Monday, as Manila’s defence minister dared Beijing to take slow its vast sovereignty claims by taking them to international arbitration.
China’s coast guard was accused by the Philippines of using water cannon against a civilian boat supplying troops on Saturday at the Second Thomas Shoal, the cannon was said to have damaged the boat and injured crew members, in the latest in a succession of flare-ups in the past year.
Philippine foreign ministry said in a statement said,”China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is unacceptable,” this was announced the charge d’affaires of the Chinese embassy had been summoned and a diplomatic protest lodged in Beijing.
“It infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” it said, demanding Chinese vessels leave the area.
The defence ministry of China asked the Philippines to cease “provocative actions” and comments that may lead to conflict and an escalation.
This was following reports of China’s coastguard confirming on Saturday it “took necessary measures” against Philippine vessels that was intruding in its waters.
China has deployed hundreds of coastguard vessel throughout the South China Sea to patrol what it considers its waters, despite a 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in a case brought by Manila that said the claim had no basis under international law. China has refused to recognise that outcome.
Although. the Philippines intentionally grounded an old warship at the shoal in 1999, as a means of easing its territorial claims and has kept a small contingent of military there ever since.
Philippine security chiefs called for a high-level meeting on Monday over the incident, to prepare recommendations to put to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on ways forward in the dispute.
“The Philippines has made sincere efforts to implement the instruction of President Marcos and President Xi to lower tensions,” Manila’s foreign ministry added.
“China’s aggressive actions call into question its sincerity in lowering the tensions and promoting peace.”