Philippines summons Chinese envoy over 'dangerous maneuvers' in disputed waters

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Philippines on Thursday summoned China’s envoy in Manila to protest “harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing and blocking, dangerous maneuvers” in the disputed South China Sea.

Manila’s Foreign Affairs Department summoned the Chinese diplomatic mission’s deputy chief Zhou Zhiyong, following collision of vessels on Tuesday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s’ administration has accused Beijing of harassment of Filipino vessels which were “conducting a routine and regular humanitarian mission” to Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Huangyan Dao or Scarborough Shoal.

Since Marcos was inaugurated as 17th president in 2022, Manila has lodged some 153 diplomatic protests with Beijing, 20 of them this year, so far.

Two of Filipino vessels were damaged due to water cannoning by Chinese vessels, Manila claimed.

However, Beijing has reiterated its claims over the disputed island of Huangyan, saying it has “always been China’s territory.”

“The Philippine Coast Guard vessel and official vessel entered waters of Huangyan Dao without Chinese permission, which seriously infringed on China’s sovereignty,” said China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Tuesday.

But the Philippines Thursday “demanded that Chinese vessels leave Bajo de Masinloc and its vicinity immediately,” said the department.

China and the Philippines have conflicting claims over the Second Thomas Shoal – also known as the Ayungin Shoal, Bai Co May and Ren'ai Jiao – which is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Beijing claims vast maritime territory in the South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line, which The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration said in 2016 has no legal basis under international law.

China says the ruling is not valid and has been in negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since 2002 for a code of conduct for the disputed sea.

Vessels from China and the Philippines have collided several times in the recent past, including when Manila shipped supplies to a rusting World War II era warship, the BRP Sierra Madre, which Beijing wants the Philippines to remove.