Published April 28, 2021, 1:31 PM
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday directed his department to file a diplomatic protest against China following the continued presence of Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe Reef, a feature that is way within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr (Twitter/DFA)
Locsin tweeted his directive amid calls from Beijing urging the Philippine Coast Guard to stop conducting maritime drills in the West Philippine Sea.
“They can say what they want from the Chinese mainland; we continue to assert from our waters by right of international law what we won in The Hague. But we must not fail to protest, @DFAPHL, have we fired off a diplomatic protest? Do it now,” the foreign secretary said.