DFA: Note verbale sent to China over latest Ayungin Shoal incident

The Philippines has sent a note verbale to China over the latest incident in Ayungin Shoal between Filipino troops and China Coast Guard (CCG) that left several Filipinos injured, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Wednesday. 

Manalo confirmed this in an international media conference where he talked about the issue on the West Philippine Sea, based on a post on X (formerly Twitter) by GMA Integrated News reporter JP Soriano. 

An Unang Balita report, citing Manalo, on Wednesday said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) lodged a diplomatic protest last week against China's actions during the Philippine routine resupply mission on June 17.

Manalo also said he has already spoken with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian regarding the incident but refused to provide the details of the conversation.

DFA Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro earlier said the Philippines is considering summoning Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian in connection with the June 17 incident. 

Manalo told a Senate inquiry on Tuesday that the Philippines will work hard to bring China back to the table for talks amid ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, saying that the DFA maintains that the "primacy of dialogue and diplomacy should prevail even in the face of these serious incidents.” 

On June 17, a Philippine Navy sailor lost his thumb and several others were injured after CCG personnel repeatedly rammed Philippine Navy rubber boats to stop them from delivering food supplies, firearms, and other necessities to BRP Sierra Madre.

The CCG personnel were also seen brandishing knives, an axe, and pointed sticks.

Based on the videos and photos released by the Philippine military, the Navy boats were slashed and the navigational screen was smashed.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. had said that the incident was an aggressive and illegal use of force by the Chinese personnel.

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr., for his part, said the Philippines will not use force or intimidation or deliberately inflict injury or harm to anyone amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos also said the country is not in the business of instigating wars as ''our great ambition is to provide a peaceful and prosperous life for every Filipino.''

Meanwhile, in an interview on Dobol B TV on Wednesday, National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said they believe China also wants to de-escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea despite its growing aggression.

"Ang feeling namin sa NSC, gusto na rin ng China na made-escalate ang sitwasyon,” he said. 

(We feel in the NSC that China also wants to escalate the situation.)

"Ang feeling namin sa NSC, gusto na rin ng China na made-escalate ang sitwasyon,” said NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya in an interview on Dobol B TV on Wednesday. 

(We feel in the NSC that China also wants to escalate the situation.)

Asked about the indications that China is now inclined to pursue peace in the area, Malaya said that he does not want to preempt the DFA about the matter.

The Ayungin Shoal, which China calls Ren'ai Reef, is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan. It is within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone and is part of its continental shelf. —Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA Integrated News