AUTHENTICATION11 March 2014
With reference to the 9 March 2014 incident reported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Government protested China’s recent actions in the Ayungin Shoal.
Ayungin Shoal is part of the continental shelf of the Philippines and therefore, the Philippines is entitled to exercise sovereignty rights and jurisdiction in the area without the permission of other States. Furthermore, the civilian vessels contracted by the Philippine Navy were only conducting rotation of personnel and resupply operations.
China’s actions constitute a clear and urgent threat to the rights and interests of the Philippines under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Department summoned the Chinese Charge d’Affaires this afternoon to handover a note verbale to express the Government’s objection to China’s actions and urged China to desist from any further interference with the efforts of the Philippines to undertake rotation and resupply operations at the Ayungin Shoal. END
OFFICE OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
