The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines has taken a firm stance by summoning China’s deputy ambassador in response to recent aggressive maneuvers by the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia. These actions targeted a Philippine routine resupply mission for troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal, intensifying the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
During the diplomatic meeting, the DFA unequivocally condemned China’s interference with the Philippines’ legitimate activities within its own exclusive economic zone, branding these actions as utterly unacceptable. The confrontation at Ayungin Shoal, known internationally as Second Thomas Shoal, is said to infringe upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction, prompting the DFA to issue a strongly-worded diplomatic protest. The note demanded the immediate departure of all Chinese vessels from the vicinity of the shoal.
This incident occurred near the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era vessel deliberately grounded at the shoal since 1999 to serve as a Philippine military outpost, symbolizing the nation’s claim to sovereignty in the area. Ayungin Shoal lies within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, as defined by a United Nations convention and reinforced by the 2016 Arbitral Award under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The DFA’s demand underscores the legal basis for the Philippines’ jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal and calls for the immediate withdrawal of Chinese vessels, highlighting the shoal’s status within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. This recent flare-up coincides with a summit in Melbourne between Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), marking the latest episode in the protracted territorial disputes involving the Philippines, China, and other claimants in the South China Sea.
Philippine officials reported harassment, blockade, the use of water cannons, and dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels aimed at impeding the resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre. The confrontation resulted in a collision causing minor damage to a Philippine Coast Guard vessel and injuries to four Filipinos. This incident reflects a continuation of tensions in the region, despite previous diplomatic talks aimed at de-escalation.
The international community, including the United States, the European Union, Japan, and Australia, has voiced condemnation of China’s actions and reiterated support for the Philippines. China’s expansive claims to the South China Sea, invalidated by the 2016 international arbitral ruling, continue to fuel geopolitical tensions, with Manila renaming its territory within these waters as the West Philippine Sea to assert its sovereignty.