A senior Chinese embassy official was summoned by the Philippines ‘ Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday ( May 2 ) over the “harassment of Philippine vessels” in the South China Sea.
” The Philippines protested the intimidation, ramming, swarming, shadowing and blocking, dangerous movements, usage of water guns and other extreme actions of China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia arteries against” Filipino state vessels, it said in a statement.
Zhou Zhiyong, the number two official at the Chinese embassy in Manila, was summonsed over the April 30 incident that damaged a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ( BFAR ) boat and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel near the China-controlled Scarborough Shoal, according to Manila.
” China’s aggressive behavior, particularly its waters gun use, caused damage to arteries of PCG and BFAR. The Philippines demanded that Chinese ships emigrate immediately from Bajo de Masinloc and its surrounding areas, according to the statement, which used the shoal’s Filipino title.
The Chinese Embassy did not respond to e-mail inquiries right away.
Manila and Beijing have a long history of regional problems in the South China Sea, with the China Coast Guard using water cannons in subsequent incidents with Philippine and Chinese vessels.
The most recent incident near the Scarborough Shoal occurred while on a quest to replenish Filipino fishing, which has long been a possible battlefield.
On Tuesday, Foreign foreign ministry official Lin Jian told investigators the China Coast Guard took “necessary methods” against Asian vessels that infringed on Beijing’s place.
According to the recordings released by the Chinese consulate in Manila, Lin claimed that these actions were “in accordance with the law” and that the way the situation was handled was professionally.
The Philippines and the United States held a significant monthly military training on Tuesday, which irritates Beijing.