DFA files anew two diplomatic protests over 200 Chinese militia vessels at WPS

The Philippines on Wednesday filed anew two diplomatic protests after the government found over 200 Chinese militia vessels lingering at the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said.

"Fired it off. Beautifully written but you will never see it because I’m like that. Annoying. Only Senate and House foreign relations," Locsin said in a tweet, refusing to disclose the contents of the diplomatic protest.

GMA reporter JP Soriano said the Department of Foreign Affairs sent two diplomatic protests.

JUST IN: DFA clarifies PHL sent out two diplomatic protests today: One counts as the daily protest DFA said would do as long as there are ships by Julian Felipe reef & the second one is on the dispersal/displacement of Chinese ships to other parts of PH maritime zones. @gmanews

— JP Soriano (@jpsoriano) April 14, 2021

Locsin earlier ordered his personnel to file diplomatic protest, reacting to media reports about the increasing tension at the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Aside from the 240 Chinese militia vessels, six Chinese navy vessels, including three warships, have been spotted in the West Philippine Sea by Philippine sovereignty patrols. There were also two People's Liberation Army Navy vessels seen in Bajo de Masinloc.

The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said there were also illegal Chinese poachers discovered at parts of the Pag-asa Islands.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also previously summoned the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines to tackle the presence of Chinese vessels at Julian Felipe Reef.—AOL, GMA News