PHL protests Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea

The Philippines has said it has conveyed to China its “serious concerns” over a recent sighting of two Chinese vessels and a Chinese Navy ship off Escoda (Sabina) Shoal last December. In a statement on Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it conveyed to the Chinese Embassy's Charge d'affaires its serious concerns over China’s actions at the West Philippine Sea. “Citing reports from the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the DFA protested the recent sightings of two Chinese vessels and a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship at the vicinity of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on December 11 and 12 respectively,” it said. Escoda Shoal is located 123.6 nautical miles from Palawan and is within "Philippine sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction," the DFA said. “These intrusions of the Chinese are clear violations of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea as well as the provision of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario said. Malacañang said the matter will be brought to “the proper forum,” where there are “remedies” to address it properly. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also downplayed speculations the protest may mar relations between the Philippines and China. The Philippines and China are two of six claimants to the Spratlys, the others being Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. “I don’t think it [diplomatic protest] will affect Philippine-China ties, it will be brought to the proper forum,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio when asked if the protest will strain ties between the two countries. — LBG, GMA News