This developed as Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro challenged China to bring to international arbitration its claim of sovereignty in the South China sea.

The DFA declared a “strong protest” against China after its coast guard bombarded anew a Philippine resupply ship in the Ayungin Shoal area which is clearly within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing will also file a similar protest with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable,” the DFA said in a statement.

According to the DFA last week’s incident that was instigated by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia violated the sovereign rights of the Philippines and its actions infringed on the country’s legal and internationally-recognized jurisdiction.

The DFA said the Philippines stressed that China has “no right to bein Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation that lies within” the Philippines EEZ and continent shelf as provided by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Philippines position on the issue had also been affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award, affording to the DFA.

“The Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and the Philippine exclusive economic zone immediately,” the DFA stressed.

Meanwhile, Teodoro said China must show that its claim of the nearly entire South China Sea has a leg to stand on by bringing the issue before international arbitration.

“If China is not afraid to state its claims to the world, then why don’t we arbitrate under international law,” said Teodoro in a media interview.