DFA files diplomatic protest vs China anew

Another diplomatic protest was filed by the Philippines against China on Monday, a day after its ships collided with Filipino vessels on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced.

Chinese ships collide with PH vessels on resupply mission to Ayungin – NTF-WPS

DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said the department summoned the Chinese Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Zhou Zhiyong to convey the country's protest. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was initially summoned but he was out of town.

Ayungin Shoal is part of the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf and the country has "every right under the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) to carry out legitimate activities in our maritime zone and that we do not accept any form of interference," Daza added.