Philippines summons Chinese envoy over ‘harassment’ in disputed sea

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Philippines on Tuesday summoned China’s top diplomat in Southeast Asia to protest what Manila called “back-to-back harassments” in the disputed South China Sea.

A statement by Manila’s Foreign Ministry said Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was conveyed “strong protest” of the Philippine government against the “back-to-back aggressive and harassing actions” by Chinese forces against Philippine vessels in the parts of the South China Sea, which Manila calls West Philippine Sea, over the weekend.

Philippine Foreign Ministry official Theresa Lazaro verbally delivered the protest against China's “dangerous maneuvers that led to collision, illegal shadowing and undue use of water cannons against the rotation and resupply mission.”

Manila this weekend twice accused Beijing of attempting to block supplies to a rusting warship, BRP Sierra Madre, in the disputed South China Sea.

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

Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation “within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf,” said Manila.

It demanded that China “immediately” direct its vessels to “cease and desist from its illegal actions against the Philippine vessels, and to stop interfering in legitimate Philippine government activities.”

To end the dispute, Manila urged Beijing to comply with international law, including the 1982 UN Law on Seas and the 2016 Award in the South China Sea Arbitration.

Besides, it said, China should adhere to its commitments under the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.