Iloilo City Jerry Treñas “condemned in the strongest term possible” the actions of three Chinese Coast Guard ships that reportedly blocked and fired water cannons against two Filipino boats on Nov. 16.
“We cannot let this go and forgotten,” said Treñas in a statement.
The boats were carrying food and other supplies for a Marine detachment at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
Ayungin Shoal is located about 105 nautical miles off Palawan, Philippines, well within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
No one was hurt in the incident, but Department of Foreign (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the boats had to abort their resupply mission.
Treñas urged the national government to take all possible diplomatic actions.
On Nov. 18, the DFA filed a strong protest to the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing, to which China responded by saying that the Philippine boats “trespassed” into China’s waters without permission.
The incident, Treñas said, “calls for a bilateral support from all our allies who respect and uphold the arbitral award in our favor.”
In 2016, the Philippines won the arbitration case it lodged against China after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands invalidated Beijing’s nine-dash line claim over the contested waters.IMT
