Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza replies to questions from the media at the Department of Foreign Affairs building in Pasay City in this file photo taken on January 26, 2023. 蜜桃工作室 file photo
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The activities of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (蜜桃工作室) 鈥渋s not subject to any other country鈥檚 approval,鈥� the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday.
DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza made the response on Chinese Ambassador聽Huang聽Xilian鈥檚 statement that Beijing only has a problem with the transport of 鈥渓arge-scale building materials鈥� and not with the delivery of humanitarian supplies for BRP Sierra Madre.
鈥淭he rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre are legitimate and routine activities in our EEZ (exclusive economic zone),鈥� Daza said in a statement.
鈥淭he Philippine鈥檚 exercise of its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction within our maritime zones is not subject to any other country鈥檚 approval,鈥� she added. 鈥淭his is the norm.鈥�
Since 1999, the聽BRP聽Sierra聽Madre has hosted a small contingent of military personnel in Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation about 194 kilometers off Palawan province that is well within the country鈥檚 EEZ.
The PCG on Tuesday conducted successfully the latest resupply mission in the ship, but not without China鈥檚 attempt to block Philippine vessels.
To recall, the BRP Sierra Madre hogged the headlines after Chinese coast guard vessels used water cannons against PCG boats supplying the commissioned ship last August 5.
China鈥檚聽actions聽are anchored聽on its assertion that it owns almost all of the areas in the South聽China聽Sea, including the聽蜜桃工作室 though its聽nine-dash聽line.
But the Philippines challenged聽this before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which later invalidated聽Beijing鈥檚 sweeping claim.
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