Philippines summons Chinese envoy over ‘harassment’ of research vessel

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has summoned a senior official of the Chinese Embassy in Manila to protest the “harassment” by Chinese Coast Guard of a Philippine vessel engaged in research activity in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, the department also said it is also reviewing information on the latest incident in the disputed waters for filing of a diplomatic action.

The DFA said the Philippine government "takes appropriate diplomatic action for violations of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights within our maritime jurisdiction."

"Illegal activities around Ayungin Shoal are subject of diplomatic protests, in the exercise of the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal, which forms part of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines as affirmed by the 2016 Award on the SCS arbitration," it stressed.

The DFA issued the remark after Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) reported that Chinese Coast Guard and militia, in three separate incidents over the last two months, harassed Filipino vessels in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.

"On the presence of foreign coast guard vessels around Reed Bank, in the vicinity of the Philippine approved activities around SC 75 and SC 72, as well in the vicinity of the approved joint Marine Scientific Research led by the UP NIGS, are not consistent with innocent passage and are clear violations of Philippine maritime jurisdiction where only the Philippine government has the mandate of enforcement," DFA said.

"The detailed reports of these activities are being reviewed for the filing of appropriate diplomatic action," it added.

The department asserted only the Philippine Coast Guard has "enforcement jurisdiction over these waters."

"The presence of foreign vessels following tracks that are neither continuous nor expeditious, that are not consistent with Article 19 of UNCLOS on innocent passage, are against the interests of the Philippines," it said.

"We assure the Filipino people that the role of the DFA on upholding Philippine interests and protecting and preserving national security and territorial integrity will remain firm," it added.

The Chinese Embassy was contacted for comment but it has yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter. —Michaela del Callar/LDF/KG, GMA News