NEWS
DFA summons Chinese embassy official over water cannon incident
5/3/24, 1:00 PM
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday (May 2) summoned anew Chinese Embassy of Manila Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong in connection with the recent water cannon incident in Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.
DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said the Philippine government “protested the harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing, blocking, use of water cannons and other aggressive actions by the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia against Philippine vessels.”
In a statement, the DFA said government also “demanded that Chinese vessels leave Bajo de Masinloc and its vicinity immediately.”
The DFA had previously summoned Zhou for him to personally received the formal diplomatic protest against Chinese forces in the West Philippine Sea.
The latest incidence of harassment against Philippine vessels sailing within the country’s exclusive economic zone near Bajo de Masinloc was last Tuesday.
China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia attacked Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Bagacay with high pressure water cannon. As a result the vessel was damaged.
PCG officials believe that the water cannon attack could kill a human being.
Also struck by water cannon was the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel Bankaw.