PH summons Chinese envoy over China-PH collision off Ayungin Shoal

The Department of  Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday summoned the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines after a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel collided with a Philippine resupply boat off Ayungin Shoal.

“We are making full use of diplomatic processes and are exercising all possible actions available to us. That includes summoning the Chinese ambassador this morning,” DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said at a news conference.

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was out of town and was represented by the embassy's deputy chief of mission, who met with Assistant Secretary for Asia Pacific Affairs Aileen Mendiola-Rau at the DFA.

Asked about the response of the Chinese representative during the meeting, Daza said she did not have information yet.

"I was just informed that the meeting was held and whom met with whom. But in terms of more details, I don't have it," she said.

"But it would be safe to assume that they will repeat the narrative in terms of what they have been sharing to the media," Daza added.

'Stop provocations'

In response to Manila's summon and protest, Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong said he conveyed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition of the Chinese side to the Philippine side over its vessels’ intrusion over its so-called waters."

"China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously China’s grave concerns, honor its promise, stop making provocations at sea, stop making dangerous moves, stop groundlessly attacking and slandering China," Zhiyong said in a statement.

Zhou maintained that Ayungin Shoal, which he referred to as  Ren’ai Jiao, "is part of China’s Nansha Qundao and China’s territory."

Zhou also repeated Beijing's call "to tow away the illegally 'grounded' warship as soon as possible so that the peace and stability of the South China Sea will not be jeopardized and the common interests of countries in the region will not be affected."

He was referring to the BRP Sierra Madre which has been grounded since 1999 at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea — the Philippine name for the South China Sea waters within the country’s boundaries.

PH diplomatic protest

A strongly-worded diplomatic protest enumerated the CCG's violations after hitting two Philippine vessels and expressed Manila's displeasure and deep  concern over the incident.

"We have every right to carry out legitimate activities in our maritime zones. We do not accept any form of interference," Daza said, adding that China, as a big country, should be responsible in contributing to the peace and stability in the region.

Since 2020, a total of 465 diplomatic protests were lodged by the Philippines against China. Of this number, 122 were filed under the Marcos administration, said Daza.

Marcos orders probe

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to conduct an investigation into the collision, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) in a statement on Monday.

Marcos gave the order during a command conference to discuss China's latest violation in the resource-rich region.

"He instructed the Philippine Coast Guard to conduct an investigation, as mandated by international maritime laws, into the events that transpired during the RORE mission to Ayungin Shoal by vessels of the China Coast Guard," the PCO said.

The Philippines also repeated its call for China to stop "provocative actions," warning that its attempts to block Manila's resupply missions to a disputed atoll in the West Philippine Sea could have "disastrous results."

In the same news conference, Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson at the National Security Council (NSC), said that China's move to interfere with a resupply mission resulted in damage to one of Manila's boats.

Sunday's collision

Philippine government officials said the collision occurred on Sunday while two Philippine supply boats escorted by two PCG vessels were heading to Ayungin Shoal to deliver food and other supplies to grounded Philippine warship BRP Sierra Madre.

The Philippines maintains a small navy personnel on BRP Sierra Madre to guard the shoal, which is located 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan and constitutes part of the country's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf as provided under a United Nations convention.

Several near-collisions with Chinese ships and other dangerous maneuvers by its coast guard against Filipino vessels have frequently occurred during routine Philippine resupply missions to the shoal, which is being claimed by China as part of its territory.

Sunday's incident was the first time Philippine officials reported that a Filipino resupply boat was rammed by a Chinese ship. No Filipino crew member was reported injured.

"We are relieved and thankful that no Filipino personnel were harmed. But we are concerned by the escalation and provocations by Chinese vessels who have no business being in the West Philippine Sea," Malaya said in Monday's news conference.

Manila responded to the collision by condemning "in the strongest degree" the "dangerous blocking maneuvers" of the Chinese vessel.

Philippine Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año on Sunday said the Philippines will not be deterred in its resupply efforts in the West Philippine Sea despite the collision incidents with China. 

Blaming the Philippines for the collision, China denied Manila's allegations, saying the supply vessel "trespassed" into Chinese waters "without authorization" despite repeated radio warnings to leave.

The Filipino boat was also carrying construction materials, it said.

China insists that the shoal, which it calls Ren'ai Reef, is part of China's Nansha Islands or what the Philippines refers to as Spratly Islands.

China also repeatedly demanded the removal of the BRP Sierra Madre from the shoal, adding the Philippine government in the past promised to pull out the vessel — a claim denied by Filipino officials. 

US support

A day after the incident, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to defend the Philippines under their Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

"The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea," the US State Department said in a statement.

The MDT, a 1951 defense pact signed between Manila and Washington, binds the two allies to come to each other’s aid from aggression and help defend the other party.

Aside from the US, several other countries, which includes the Canada, Japan, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, France, New Zealand and European Union (EU) states, quickly condemned China's latest action, calling it a violation of international law. —with Michaela del Callar and Reuters/KBK/KG, GMA Integrated News