‘LAYAS!’ DFA ASKS CHINESE COAST GUARD TO LEAVE SCARBOROUGH SHOAL

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Following the water cannon incident that caused damage to Philippine vessels, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday demanded that Chinese coast guard ships leave Scarborough Shoal and its vicinity immediately.

In a statement, the DFA said it summoned China’s Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong over the water cannon incident.

“The Philippines protested the harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing and blocking, dangerous maneuvers, use of water cannons, and other aggressive actions of China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels against the vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) en route to Bajo de Masinloc,” the DFA said in a statement.

Scarborough Shoal is also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

It noted: “China’s aggressive actions, particularly its water cannon use, caused damage to vessels of PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) and BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources).”

Earlier, the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) installed a 380-meter floating barrier that covers the entire entrance of the shoal.

(el Amigo/MNM)