Statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs on Developments in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea)

8 January 2012 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) conveyed to the Chinese Embassy's Charge d'affaires its serious concerns over recent actions of the People's Republic of China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) on 5 January 2012.

Citing reports from the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the DFA protested the recent sightings of two Chinese vessels and a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship at the vicinity of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on December 11 and 12 respectively.

The Escoda Shoal is located 123.6 nautical miles from Palawan and is within "Philippine sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction."

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said that "these instrusions of the Chinese are clear violations of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea as well as the provision of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."

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Sunday, 08 January 2012 09:00 Public Information Service Unit 

Department of Foreign Affairs

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