Philippines protests Chinese aggression off Palawan

From the Mindanao Examiner (Dec 29, 2022): Philippines protests Chinese aggression off Palawan

THE PHILIPPINES has filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing after a Chinese Coast Guard vessel intruded in Filipino waters and forcefully grabbed a Chinese rocket debris retrieved by the Philippine navy in the West Philippine Sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the incident occurred only last month off Pag-asa Island in Palawan, an archipelagic province located in the Mimaropa. Palawan is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of 14,649.73 km².

Beijing strongly denied there was force involved, claiming it was a friendly consultation between the parties. The Chinese Embassy in Manila said it has no information yet on Beijing's response to the latest diplomatic protest.

The DFA initially issued a note verbale seeking clarification from China, upon instructions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The Philippine Senate also passed a resolution condemning what it described as China's continued bullying in the West Philippine Sea.

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