MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian on Monday and expressed “utmost displeasure” over the “illegal lingering presence” of China’s maritime vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“The DFA reiterated the firm demand of the Philippines that China [will] ensure the immediate departure of all its vessels from the area of Julian Felipe Reef and other maritime zones of the Philippines,” the DFA said on Tuesday.
Foreign Affairs undersecretary Elizabeth Buensuceso told the ambassador that Julian Felipe reef is within the country’s exclusive economic zone. She stressed that the presence of Chinese vessels in the area became a source of “regional tension.”
The official also mentioned The Hague’s arbitral ruling, where China’s historical nine-dash line claim to the resource-rich waters was invalidated.
“The 12 July 2016 Award in the South China Sea arbitration ruled that claims to historic rights, or other sovereign rights or jurisdiction that exceed the geographic and substantive limits of maritime entitlements under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), are without lawful effect,” she said.
Huang was also reminded of “proper decorum and manners in the conduct of their duties as guests of the Philippines” following his exchange of words with Department of National Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
“Both sides affirmed the use of peaceful settlement of disputes in addressing their differences on the South China Sea/West Philippines issue,” the DFA said in a statement.
In March, a total of 220 Chinese vessels were seen at the Julian Felipe Reef. China claimed that the reef was part of its Nansha Qundao district. DFA rejected this claim.
Based on the latest monitoring, a total of 40 vessels remained at the reef./PN
