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Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star
May 31, 2025 | 12:00am
The MV Felix Oca, with the Atin Ito civilian mission, was shadowed by a China Coast Guard ship on Wednesday while en route to Pag-asa Island where the coalition held its concert at sea.
Michael Varcas
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs countered recent remarks by the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy yesterday questioning Philippine activities on Pag-asa Island and its cays in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“The Department of Foreign Affairs rejects and refutes the recent statements of the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Manila regarding Pag-asa Island and the Pag-asa Cays, and the activities of Philippine authorities in the area,” its statement read.
“The fundamental fact is that Pag-asa Island and the Pag-asa Cays form part of the Kalayaan Island Group, which is an integral part of the Philippines over which it has longstanding sovereignty and jurisdiction,” the DFA stressed.
“The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research in and around these features, and will continue to do so,” it added.
The DFA noted that the actions of Philippine authorities in the area are a valid exercise of Philippine sovereignty and are consistent with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, as well as the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
“China has no right to object, much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities. We urge China to respect the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction, even as we continue to pursue peaceful and legal means to manage differences and the situation at sea,” the DFA declared.
The DFA was reacting to the Chinese embassy spokesperson saying earlier this week that the Philippines violated Article 5 of the DOC which states that all parties must “exercise self-restraint” in conducting activities in the WPS.
“Nansha Qundao, including Tiexian Jiao, has always been China’s territory. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters,” the Chinese embassy statement read, identifying Pag-asa Island and its cays by it Chinese names.
