The Philippine Department or Foreign Affairs (DFA) has lodged a s protest against the aggressive actions carried out by Chinese vessels against Philippine ships during a rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission this afternoon to convey the Philippines’ protest against the aggressive actions undertaken by the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia against the rotation and resupply mission undertaken by the Philippines in Ayungin Shoal today,” the DFA said in a statement.

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The DFA also called the incident “unacceptable” and demanded that all Chinese vessels leave the area.

“During the meeting, the Philippines stressed, among others, that China’s interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable. China’s actions in Ayungin Shoal infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction."

"The Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately.”

It added that the area is within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, as stated in international law.

“Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award, it cannot be appropriated for sovereignty claims. International law affirms that the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the feature.”

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'ACT OF WAR'

But for Maritime and Security expert Raymond Powell, the CCG and Chinese militia’s actions must be classified as a blockade, which is an act of war. 

“(The world) needs to wake up to the fact that this is a blockade. A blockade under normal circumstances is an act of war and somehow China has been getting away with it for many years…China is choosing what they will allow through. And today, of 2 little boats they chose to allow one through and they water cannoned the other one. If that’s not a blockade I don’t know what a blockade is,” Powell said.

Based on satellite imagery monitored and analyzed by Powell, Chinese vessels, including 5 China Coast Guard vessels and at least 15 maritime militias, positioned themselves around Ayungin Shoal 48 hours before the resupply mission.

“We generally see them set up 2 picket lines, if you will. So kind of an outer one that’s maybe 15 nautical miles out, and then an inner one, it’s maybe 5 nautical miles out. And that way, you know, once something gets thru then there’s still another line of defense where their blockade can pick it up,” Powell said.

Powell added that in order to even have a chance of outmaneuvering Chinese forces, the Philippine Coast Guard needs to get faster and more ships. But at the end of the day, Powell believes the international community must do more.

“I think that it really would be very important that other countries get much more direct with China and explain that this absolutely unacceptable. What China is doing is blockading another country’s legitimate military outpost in its own exclusive economic zone without any legal justification whatsoever and that is outrageous and cannot be allowed to stand. And China should face real sanctions for this,” Powell emphasized.

The EU, US,  Great Britain, and Japan have issued statements of support for the Philippines. 

“Japan reiterates its grave concern on the repeated dangerous actions in the SCS including the recent use of water cannon by CCG which resulted in Filipino injuries and a collision. Japan will continue to stand with the Philippines and cooperate with like-minded countries to maintain the peace and stability in the region,” the Japanese Embassy’s statement said.

“We strongly condemn the PRC’s dangerous maneuvers at Ayungin/Second Thomas Shoal, which endangered lives, resulted in injuries, and damaged @CoastGuardPH vessels in the 🇵🇭 EEZ. The 🇺🇸 stands with the 🇵🇭 and proponents of international law in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” said US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson on X.

China however is pointing its finger at Philippine Coast Guard vessels, accusing the latter to be responsible for the incident.

The Chinese embassy has yet to answer Philippine media clarificatory questions on the specifics of the aforementioned “commitment” that the Philippines allegedly made.