MANILA – China has accused the Philippines of “illegal provocations” in contested waters in a rare public comment on a diplomatic protest filed here.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the Philippines “infringes on China’s sovereignty and security” by sending military aircraft to patrol the Spratlys and reefs claimed by Beijing.
In its diplomatic protest, the Department of Foreign Affairs opposed China’s illicit issuance of radio challenges at aircraft conducting regular maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea – an area of the South China Sea that Manila claims.
“China urges the Philippine side to immediately stop illegal provocations,” Zhao said in a regular briefing.
Zhao also defended the Chinese Coast Guard’s confiscation of Filipino fishermen’s fish aggregating devices or payaos in Scarborough, a shoal west of Zambales claimed by both Manila and Beijing.
The Philippines calls it Bajo de Masinloc but lost control over it following a controversial standoff with China in 2012.
“It is beyond reproach for China Coast Guard to conduct law enforcement in Huangyan Dao waters as it is a lawful practice,” Zhao said, referring to Scarborough.
In April, Manila also lodged diplomatic protests over Beijing’s declaration of two new districts in what it calls Sansha City, which covered areas in the West Philippine Sea, and the pointing of a radar gun at the Philippine Navy’s BRP Conrado Yap.
China rejected a Hague tribunal’s ruling that invalidated its sweeping on West Philippines Sea. The landmark decision recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in areas within its exclusive economic zone that China claims./PN
