Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan regarding the Ayungin Shoal incident, which resulted in injuries to two Philippine Navy personnel stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre.
According to Malacañang Palace, this move was prompted by a concerning threat to national security, following the President’s condemnation of the harassment of Filipino personnel in the West Philippine Sea.
However, Ambassador Jing argued that the agreement needed to be reviewed, claiming the Philippines had violated the provisional agreement by reinforcing the BRP Sierra Madre.
Regarding the meeting, the Chinese envoy described the exchange of views with President Marcos as useful, constructive, and in-depth. The Chinese diplomat insisted that the meeting should not be considered a diplomatic protest or *démarche*, but rather an exchange of words between the two officials.
Meanwhile, Beijing summoned Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime Florcruz, and both Beijing and Manila filed diplomatic protests against each other over the Ayungin incident.
The agreement concerning the BRP Sierra Madre is part of a so-called “Gentlemen’s Agreement” reached between Beijing and Manila during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte—an agreement that the current administration had previously denied existed.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea refuted the China Coast Guard’s false narrative, asserting that the actions taken regarding Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel were within their authorization and constituted a gesture of humanitarian goodwill.
The inter-agency task force asserted that the CCG blocked the medical evacuation of the injured serviceman aboard the Philippine Coast Guard vessel, dismissing claims to the contrary as baseless attempts to distort the facts.
The task force further stated that the actions of the Chinese ships demonstrate a pattern of illegal, aggressive, and deceptive behavior, as well as unlawful activities—actions that cannot alter the truth, international law, or the Philippines’ sovereign rights.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro had a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Manila.
Ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority, mahigit dalawang milyong Overseas Filipino Workers o OFWs ang nagtatrabaho sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo. Marami sa kanila ang nasa Gitnang Silangan.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News