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DFA summons Chinese envoy after latest Ayungin encounter

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATE</strong>) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it has summoned officials of the Chinese Embassy to express the Philippines&#x27; &quot;strong protest&quot; over the &quot;aggressive actions&quot; by the China Coast Guard and its maritime militia last Saturday against Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/23/china-coast-guard-used-water-cannon-on-resupply-boat-afp-2143">READ: China Coast Guard used water cannon on resupply boat — AFP</a></div><p>&quot;[T]he Philippines stressed, among others, that China has no right to be in Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation that lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS and as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award,&quot; the DFA said in a statement. </p><p>DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Raphael Hermoso was tasked to summon Chinese Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires Zhou Zhiyong to lodge the protest, while DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro had a telephone call with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong to express the Philippines&#x27; outrage over the incident. </p><p>The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has also been instructed to lodge the same demarche with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/24/us-condemns-china-s-latest-sea-attacks-vs-philippines-956">READ: US condemns China&#x27;s latest sea attacks vs Philippines</a></div><p>The Philippines, in its latest protest, reiterated that Chinese vessels should &quot;leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and the Philippine exclusive economic zone immediately.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/5/philippines-demands-chinese-vessels-leave-ayungin-shoal-area-1752">READ: Philippines demands Chinese vessels leave Ayungin Shoal area</a></div><p>&quot;China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable. It infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction,&quot; the DFA added.</p><p>The DFA said that China has failed to do its part to &quot;lower tensions&quot; in the West Philippine Sea, &quot;contradicting&quot; regional efforts for &quot;peace and cooperation.&quot; </p><p>Meanwhile, China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu insisted that the Philippines’ resupply and rotation mission is “irregular” and an intrusion into areas which China claims as territory. It further accused the vessels of bringing in construction materials. </p><p>The US, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other security partners have called out previous attempts by Chinese vessels to impede Philippine boats in the West Philippines with aggressive maneuvers and water cannon.</p><div><strong> —With reports from Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4-byCazrNjQ?&amp;t=9s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BJMVFFTtTSk?&amp;t=105s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has also been instructed to lodge the same demarche with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</p>

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has also been instructed to lodge the same demarche with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.