‘Send Chinese ambassador back to China’

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday urged President Marcos to send Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian back home following China’s latest aggressions against the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.

“I urge President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to send the current Chinese ambassador home. He has done nothing to address the continued attacks of his government on our troops and on our people,” Zubiri said.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday morning that the China Coast Guard (CCG) blasted three Philippine vessels with water cannons and rammed one of them, causing serious damage.

The three vessels were on a routine rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre stationed at Ayungin Shoal.

PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela also posted photos and videos of the latest maritime incident on X, formerly Twitter.

In a separate incident on Dec. 9, the CCG also fired water cannons at three vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) conducting a regular humanitarian and support mission that would provide oil and grocery packs to over 30 fishing vessels near Bajo de Masinloc.

“The Philippine vessels that were attacked by water cannons are from (BFAR) and they were providing supplies to Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal,” Zubiri said.

“This was a humanitarian mission, and still China chose to attack them. They have no heart,” he added.

Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday said that the Marcos administration will never allow itself to be intimidated by China’s incursions or illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea.

“We demand that Beijing take immediate and concrete actions to cease these aggressive activities and uphold the principles of international law. The Philippines stands firm in its sovereignty and jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc and its territorial sea,” he said in a statement.

“The attack on the Datu Sanday, Datu Bankaw and Datu Tamblot, which were on a vital humanitarian and support mission, is not only a blatant disregard for international norms but also a direct challenge to the sovereignty and rights of the Philippines,” he added, referring to BFAR vessels involved in the Dec. 9 incident.

Romualdez also urged China to “respect our sovereignty, desist from actions that infringe upon it, and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve disputes.” — Delon Porcalla