Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro —PNA file photo by Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro on Wednesday conveyed Manila’s “strong protest” over the injuries suffered by Filipino servicemen during a recent confrontation between a China Coast Guard (CCG) team and Philippine Navy personnel, in her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
In a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, Lazaro also renewed calls for the dismantling of Chinese structures in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and called attention to the “offensive” depiction of Filipinos as monkeys by the state-controlled media company China Daily.
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In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Lazaro reiterated the country’s “strong protest over the violent actions” committed by CCG personnel against the Philippine Navy at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on Monday that injured two Filipinos.
READ: AFP: China Coast Guard assaults PH Navy man at Ayungin
Also on Wednesday, officials said two vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) managed to evacuate the injured sailors to safety from Ayungin despite the “blocking maneuvers” by a CCG boat.
This would belie China’s claim that it had “authorized” the medical transport, they said.
On Tuesday, President Marcos summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to Malacañang over the July 20 incident. The diplomat later told reporters that the “constructive” meeting was not limited to the Ayungin confrontation but covered a range of issues, and that both parties agreed to keep the discussions confidential.
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CCG’s ‘obstruction’
Manila earlier said it would file a diplomatic protest against China over the “unacceptable” act of violence against Filipino personnel, and also in response to Beijing’s move to summon Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz over the same incident.
READ: Marcos summons Chinese envoy over Ayungin incident
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On Wednesday, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said CCG teams on rigid-hull inflatable boats repeatedly made dangerous blocking maneuvers that hindered the safe transfer of the injured Navy men.
“Humanitarian medical evacuations are urgent, lifesaving operations that should never be obstructed or exploited to advance unlawful maritime claims,” it said in a statement.
“China’s subsequent assertion that it ‘permitted’ the operation is contradicted by the conduct of its own personnel on the scene.”
In a separate statement, Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, said the CCG tried to block a PCG boat while en route to pick up the injured Navy men at the shoal.
Hours after the incident, the PCG’s BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua were sent from Ulugan Bay in Palawan at 2:39 p.m. on Monday to Ayungin Shoal for the evacuation of the victims, Tarriela said.
Safe evacuation
At 6:46 a.m. on Tuesday, while still about 26 kilometers northeast of the shoal, BRP Melchora Aquino received a radio message from CCG vessel 5308, saying it was allowing the transfer “out of humanitarian consideration” while asserting Chinese sovereignty over the area.
Tarriela said the PCG replied by informing nearby vessels that it would proceed to the rendezvous point to pick up the injured Navy men.
Tarriela said a rigid hull inflatable boat deployed from CCG-5308 attempted to block a PCG inflatable boat as it approached the rendezvous point at the northeastern entrance of Ayungin Shoal shortly before 11 a.m.
Despite the interference, the PCG was able to transfer the two servicemen to BRP Melchora Aquino at around 11:30 a.m.
‘Principled positions’
In the bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Lazaro also reiterated the Philippines’ “consistent and principled positions on the South China Sea,” according to the DFA.
She also raised concerns over “actions that have infringed on the maritime rights and entitlements, including incidents affecting the safety of Filipino personnel and fishermen.”
Lazaro renewed Manila’s call for the removal of China’s remaining structures in Panatag Shoal following the PCG’s report that Chinese buoys and a communication antenna, among others, were still sighted in the area.
In June, Manila filed a formal protest with China over a “floating structure” spotted near the shoal, which lies 240 km west of Luzon and nearly 900 km from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese land mass. Beijing had earlier revealed plans to create a “nature reserve” at the shoal.
Racist video
Lazaro also raised the issue concerning the July 10 video released by China Daily that depicted Filipinos as monkeys.
Lazaro said “disagreements over legal and political issues do not justify resorting to disturbing imagery.”
The secretary drew “a firm line at the depiction of Filipinos as monkeys,” which she described as “deeply offensive, distressing, and unacceptable.”
But outside the maritime dispute, the DFA said, two ministers had a “candid, comprehensive and constructive discussion” on the overall state of Philippine-Chinese relations.
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They also noted progress in negotiations on the Asean-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and expressed willingness to work toward concluding the negotiations this year. —WITH A REPORT FROM AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE