DFA summons Chinese envoy over collision incident in WPS.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has summoned the Chinese Ambassador to Manila and protested the two incidents of collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) early Sunday morning.

However, since Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian is out of town, his deputy Zhou Zhiyong came instead and met with DFA Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau Monday.

Mendiola-Rau personally expressed to the Chinese diplomat the Philippine government's 'very strong protest' over the two incidents and handed over the note verbale expressing the same.

'We conveyed our position that we have every right under UNCLOS to carry out legitimate activities in our maritime zone, and that we do not accept any foreign interference,' Ma. Teresita Daza, DFA spokesperson, said in a news conference.

She said China, as a 'major power, bears a heavier responsibility of contributing to peace and stability in the region.'

This is the 55th incursion of China in the West Philippine Sea that the Philippines protested this year.

The National Task Force on West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), an inter-agency group led by the National Security Council, also 'condemned in strongest terms' the latest incidents in what they called 'dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal blocking maneuvers' by the Chinese Coast Guard 'in concert with Chinese militias.'

'While no lives were lost yesterday [Sunday], Chinese provocative and irresponsible actions have clearly impeded once again the safety of the Filipino crew,' NTF-WPS spokesman and NSC assistant director general Jonathan Malaya said.

China reaction

According to the Chinese Embassy, Zhou in turn...