Philippines protests China's water cannon incident in Panatag Shoal

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will be filing a diplomatic protest against China after its coast guard reportedly fired water cannons at Filipino fishermen to drive them away from the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

At a televised press briefing on Tuesday, DFA Spokesperson Raul Hernandez said they have summoned the charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy here to protest Beijing's efforts to prohibit Filipino fishermen from doing fishing activities in the shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal.

"The Department likewise strongly protests the acts of harassment and the manner by which these were committed by China to forcefully drive away Philippine fishing vessels from Bajo de Masinloc," Hernandez said.

According to the DFA, two Filipino fishing boats were harassed by the Chinese coast guard vessel with Bow Number 3063 last January 27 in Bajo de Masinloc.

Hernandez said the Chinese vessel continuously blew its horn and and doused the local fishing vessels with water cannons for several minutes.

Read: China ship blasts Pinoy fishermen with water cannon

It was the first time a water cannon was fired at Filipino fishermen in disputed waters, according to Hernandez.

He said last year, about nine similar reports of harrasment incidents of Filipino fishermen were committed by vessels of the Chinese civilian maritime law enforcement agency, even during bad weather conditions.

"[T]he Department vehemently protests the acts of China when its law enforcement vessels drove away Philippine fishing vessels seeking shelter in the Philippines’ Bajo de Masinloc during inclement weather," Hernandez said.

Bajo de Masinloc, which is just over 200 kilometers off Zambales, is part of the Philippine territory and exclusive economic zone, according to Hernandez.

He said the disputed fishing area is an ntegral part of the Philippines and over which the country exercises sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

"Philippine fishing vessels have been routinely, continuously, and peacefully and sustainably fishing in Bajo de Masinloc," Hernandez said.

Earlier today, President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippines will ask China to explain the incident but it will first send a diplomatic message to the government of the Asian giant.

"I think it is proper for us to ask them exactly what this incident was all about, what their intentions are," Aquino said at a televised media interview at the sidelines of the 28th anniversary rites of the People Power Revolution in Cebu.

Read: PNoy: Phl to ask China to explain water cannon incident

The Philippines and China are locked in a territorial dispute over the South China Sea, with the Asian giant citing centuries-old maps to back up its claims on the contested waters, believed to be rich in oil and gas, and its landforms.

While Manila is pressing its sovereignty over parts of the South China Sea, Beijing is trying to own virtually the entire disputed waters through its nine-dotted-line claim.

The Philippines has filed an arbitration case before the United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea regarding its maritime dispute with China. -with AP