MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro on Wednesday raised the Philippines’ protest over the recent Ayungin Shoal incident during her first bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in two years, as Manila pressed Beijing on maritime disputes despite renewed diplomatic engagement.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the meeting was held on the sidelines of the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center.
According to the DFA, Lazaro reiterated the Philippines’ “strong protest over the violent actions committed by China Coast Guard personnel against Filipino navy personnel at Ayungin Shoal on 20 July 2026.”
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said China Coast Guard personnel struck a Philippine Navy serviceman on the head with a wooden club and damaged a military rubber boat after Chinese personnel approached Philippine boats deployed to keep a China Coast Guard vessel away from BRP Sierra Madre.
The injured serviceman was later evacuated by the Philippine Coast Guard.
Lazaro also reiterated the Philippines’ “consistent and principled positions on the South China Sea” and raised concerns over “actions that have infringed on the maritime rights and entitlements, including incidents affecting the safety of Filipino personnel and fishermen.”
The meeting came after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to Malacañang.
Other issues raised
Lazaro also renewed Manila’s call for the removal of China’s remaining structures in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
The Philippine Coast Guard previously said that Chinese buoys, communication antenna, among others were still monitored in the area during maritime domain awareness monitoring.
Lazaro likewise raised a China Daily video released on July 10 that depicted Filipinos as monkeys.
According to the DFA, Lazaro said “disagreements over legal and political issues do not justify resorting to disturbing imagery,” drawing “a firm line at the depiction of Filipinos as monkeys,” which she described as “deeply offensive, distressing, and unacceptable.”
Beyond maritime disputes, the two ministers held what the DFA described as a “candid, comprehensive and constructive discussion” on the overall state of Philippines-China relations.
They discussed political and security matters, maritime and law enforcement issues, regional and international developments, and cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, tourism, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
Both sides underscored the importance of maintaining open channels of communication, enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening confidence-building measures.
They also noted progress in negotiations on the Asean-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and expressed willingness to work toward concluding the negotiations this year.
The Philippines emphasized the need to exercise restraint, avoid actions that increase tensions and resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award.
Lazaro likewise reaffirmed the Philippines’ adherence to its One China Policy, consistent with the 1975 Joint Communiqué between the Philippines and China. /gsg
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