China says PHL protest over Ayungin Shoal incident unacceptable

From GMA News (Mar 12): China says PHL protest over Ayungin Shoal incident unacceptable

China on Wednesday called unacceptable the diplomatic protest lodged by the Philippines against Beijing for preventing the deployment of Filipino naval personnel and a routine supply mission to the disputed Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal last weekend.

“The Chinese side does not accept the protest by the Philippine side,” said embassy spokesman Zhang Hua, adding China has repeatedly stated its position on the matter.

China maintains “jurisdiction and indisputable sovereignty” over nearly the entire resource-rich South China Sea – a claim being challenged by its Asian neighbors like the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan as it overlaps with their territorial boundaries.

Parts of the waters that fall within the Philippines’ territory have been renamed West Philippine Sea to assert Manila's claim.

Philippines and China ties plunged to their lowest in years when Manila accused Chinese government vessels of harassing Filipino fishermen in its own waters and their unending exchange of diplomatic barbs is a reflection of animosity between two nations.

In the latest flare-up, Chinese Coast Guard ships last March 9 blocked two Philippine vessels carrying supplies and personnel from going to the shoal, where a broken-down Philippine naval ship has remained grounded since 1999.

At least seven Filipino naval troops using dilapidated vessel as their base are guarding the shoal, which Philippine officials say is within the country’s economic zone and continental shelf as mandated by a United Nations law.

Manila demanded China to desist from interfering in Philippine territory, saying its recent actions “constitute a clear and urgent threat to the rights and interests of the Philippines.”

“For 15 years we have conducted regular re-supply missions and personnel rotation without interference from China,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

The Philippines, he added, will soon submit its written argument on the case it filed against China before a UN-linked tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands last year.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/352218/news/nation/china-says-phl-protest-over-ayungin-shoal-incident-unacceptable