The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has “firmly and strongly” rejected claims by the Chinese Embassy in Manila asserting Chinese sovereign rights and jurisdiction over waters off Batanes.
The diplomatic exchange followed accusations from Beijing alleging that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) harassed the Chinese research vessel Jia Hai Ke 7, which was detected approximately 37 nautical miles northwest of Itbayat, Batanes. The Chinese Embassy maintained that the ship was conducting routine marine scientific research in waters subject to Chinese sovereignty.
In response, the DFA clarified that the PCG was conducting lawful, routine enforcement operations against an unauthorized marine scientific survey operating well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), foreign states must secure explicit consent from the coastal nation before undertaking scientific research within its EEZ.
“The Philippines did not receive any request from the Chinese side, and no consent has been given to any Chinese vessel” to conduct marine scientific surveys in the area, the DFA stated. “We strongly call on China to fulfill its obligations under international law and avoid actions that are counterproductive and undermine efforts to rebuild mutual trust.”
Addressing the broader geopolitical dynamics, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. reaffirmed his commitment to countering unlawful intrusions into Philippine maritime territory.
Teodoro acknowledged the operational contrast between defense enforcement and diplomatic engagement, referencing Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro.
“I’m an advocate. As we’ve said, this is why Secretary Lazaro has a difficult time with me,” Teodoro noted during an interview. “They’re diplomats. I’m not. They work within certain structures, and I understand that because keeping dialogue open is quite important to them.”
Teodoro added that his core mandate centers on “resisting unlawful interference in the Philippines.”
His comments follow an intervention at a defense forum in South Korea, where Teodoro challenged a position statement distributed by Chinese representatives that rejected the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. Teodoro explained that he initially believed the document was an event memo, but chose to directly refute Beijing’s narrative once he identified it as China’s standard diplomatic line.
He stressed that failing to challenge false territorial claims allows unlawful narratives to gain traction. While emphasizing that the Philippines does not seek armed conflict, Teodoro reiterated the need to strengthen national defense capabilities and regional alliances to deter illegal incursions.
To support livelihoods impacted by maritime friction, the Department of National Defense is partnering with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to upgrade equipment for local fishing fleets.
“We have to help our fishermen,” Teodoro emphasized, noting that government support will focus on providing larger vessels and cold-storage refrigeration units to protect catch yields and sustain fishing communities in contested waters.