Yesterday (March 5, 2024), another incident again occurred within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, more particularly in the Ayungin Shoal. Chinese actions resulted in a collision between a Philippine Coast Guard ship, and a Chinese Coast Guard ship. The irresponsible use of water cannons damaged a Philippine supply vessel and caused minor injuries among some of the Filipino crew that was doing a routine rotation and resupply mission (RORE) to BRP Sierra Madre.
The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has demarched their counterparts in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. The Department also lodged another diplomatic protest against the Chinese side by summoning the Chinese Embassy, also yesterday afternoon.
Ayungin Shoal is part of our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and that the Philippines has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over it. As a low-tide elevation, Ayungin Shoal can neither be the subject of a sovereignty claim nor is it capable of appropriation under international law.
The Philippines’ resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre are part of routine operations in line with domestic and international law. This lawful activity is well within the exercise of Philippine rights within our EEZ. We have not added anything to our normal and routine RORE missions. Our conduct over our EEZ remains the same.
The Philippines has made sincere efforts to implement leaders’ instructions to lessen tensions and have our Foreign Ministers and foreign ministries hold discussions. China, however, has made references to supposed agreements or arrangements out of these discussions. The Philippines has not entered into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its EEZ and continental shelf, including in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal.
China’s unlawful exercise of maritime law enforcement powers, interference with Philippine rotation and resupply missions, or any other activity that infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction in Ayungin Shoal are violations of international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. We continue to call on China to cease and desist from undertaking actions that violate Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, and undermine the mutual trust and confidence that should underpin bilateral relations.
We thank the international community for their continued expression of support to the Philippines, and the defense of the international order based on international law.
The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines remains committed to pursue its mandate of protecting and upholding the Philippine legal maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea. (PR)
