THE GOVERNMENT of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has filed 130 diplomatic protests against China, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Sixty-three of these protests were filed this year, including one at the weekend after Chinese coast guard and militia ships fired water cannons at Philippine boats on a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita C. Daza told reporters in a WhatsApp message on Tuesday.
The Philippines on Monday accused China of “serious escalation” after it sprayed water on three Philippine vessels and ramming one that carried military chief Romeo S. Brawner, Jr.
Manila later summoned China’s ambassador in Manila over his country’s “aggressive” actions in the disputed waterway.
China on Monday said it had lodged “solemn representations” and a strong protest over the Philippines’ accusations over the incident.
Philippine vessels had ignored the Chinese Coast Guard’s warnings and rushed into waters near Second Thomas Shoal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a news briefing.
China urged the Philippines to halt its “maritime violations and provocations” and “groundless attacks and smears.”
Ms. Daza has said 14 countries including the United States had shown support for the Philippines’ claim over Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal.
In a statement on Tuesday, the DFA said its Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro verbally delivered the protest to Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian on Monday, reiterating that Second Thomas Shoal is within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The shoal is about 200 kilometers from the Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan Island.
Ms. Lazaro told China’s envoy his country has no right to interfere in Philippine resupply missions, which are in line with domestic and international laws.
Tensions between the Philippines and China have worsened after the latter’s coast guard fired water cannons to block Manila’s resupply mission to a grounded ship at Second Thomas Shoal on Aug. 5.
The United States has called out China for interfering in Philippine maritime operations and undermining regional stability, urging Beijing to stop “its dangerous and destabilizing conduct” in the strategic waters.
In 2016, a United Nations-backed arbitration court based in the Hague said China’s claim to nearly the entire South China Sea has no legal basis.
China has largely ignored the ruling, calling it void. Aside from the Philippines and China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the waterway.
Mr. Marcos has said any foreign claim of sovereignty over Second Thomas Shoal is “baseless and absolutely contrary to international law.”
Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the 2024 national budget would ensure a reliable defense posture for Philippine operations in the South China Sea.
In a statement, he said the proposed P5.768-trillion budget includes a P6.17 billion hike in the Defense department’s budget, and P2.8 billion more for the Philippine Coast Guard.
“We hope this boost in funds for the purchase of additional patrol ships and defense equipment will also boost the morale of our brave Coast Guard and soldiers in protecting our EEZ,” the Senate chief said.
The Senate on Monday passed on third and final reading a bill seeking to boost the country’s defense program through investments in local defense equipment manufacturing amid rising tensions with China.
The program will get P1 billion in funding.
“As we have learned from the constant bullying and aggression of China against Filipino fishermen and our protectors in the West Philippine Sea and our exclusive economic zone, we badly need to upgrade our capabilities in patrolling our sea,” Mr. Zubiri said, referring to areas of the South China Sea within the country’s exclusive economic zone. — John Victor D. Ordoñez