Manila has filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing over the presence of hundreds of Chinese vessels in the waters surrounding Pag-asa Island in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the diplomatic protest was filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs in behalf of the Philippine government after discovery of more than 275 Chinese vessels sailing near the Philippine-occupied island from January to March this year.
Panelo, citing military reports, said that the vessels were “stationary” and usually stay near Pag-asa for a day to a week.
This, as China continues to ignore the July 2016 arbitral ruling, favoring the Philippines and invalidating Beijing’s sweeping claims to the resource-rich South China Sea.
Panelo said that Malacanang would “politely ask” the Chinese government to act of the issue.
