NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Marcos Summons Chinese Envoy After Ayungin Incident
PHOTO CREDIT: PCO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to Malacañang following the latest confrontation between Philippine and Chinese personnel at Ayungin Shoal, signaling one of the strongest diplomatic responses by his administration amid escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
The meeting came a day after a violent encounter between Philippine Navy personnel and members of the China Coast Guard near the BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine military outpost grounded at Ayungin Shoal. The incident left one Filipino sailor injured and drew condemnation from the Philippine government.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that Marcos met with the Chinese envoy, saying the discussion centered on the latest developments in the West Philippine Sea.
"It concerns national security, but we will give additional information once we are allowed to do," Castro told reporters.
Earlier in the day, Malacañang condemned what it described as the China Coast Guard's harassment and assault of Philippine personnel carrying out lawful operations within the country's exclusive economic zone.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Chinese Coast Guard personnel confronted Philippine Navy personnel near BRP Sierra Madre during a lawful mission at Ayungin Shoal. The military said one Filipino sailor was injured during the incident and condemned the encounter as another act of aggression that endangered Philippine personnel.
The Department of National Defense also denounced the confrontation, calling it another act of violence and harassment against Filipino servicemen in the West Philippine Sea.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) likewise condemned the incident, describing any act of violence against Filipino personnel as unacceptable and saying the government would pursue appropriate diplomatic action.
China, however, rejected the Philippine account of the incident.
Beijing accused Philippine personnel of provoking the confrontation and maintained that the China Coast Guard acted in accordance with the law. Chinese authorities also claimed they allowed the evacuation of the injured Filipino sailor on humanitarian grounds, an account rejected by the Philippine military, which insisted its personnel acted professionally and lawfully throughout the encounter.
The diplomatic tensions escalated further after China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz in Beijing over the same incident. Hours later, President Marcos called in Ambassador Jing Quan to formally convey the Philippines' protest over China's actions.
The meeting marked one of the strongest diplomatic steps taken by the Marcos administration in response to recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea. It was also among the rare occasions that the President personally summoned the Chinese ambassador to Malacañang over a maritime dispute.
The latest confrontation also drew international concern.
The United States condemned what it described as China's "dangerous and escalatory actions" at Ayungin Shoal and urged Beijing to stop its "illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions" in the South China Sea.
Ayungin Shoal, internationally known as Second Thomas Shoal, lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The 2016 Arbitral Award also affirmed that the feature falls within the Philippines' maritime entitlements and invalidated China's sweeping claims over most of the South China Sea. China, however, continues to reject the ruling and asserts its claim over the area.
The latest incident is expected to further heighten tensions between Manila and Beijing as the Philippine government continues to assert its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea while pursuing diplomatic measures in response to China's actions.
The meeting came a day after a violent encounter between Philippine Navy personnel and members of the China Coast Guard near the BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine military outpost grounded at Ayungin Shoal. The incident left one Filipino sailor injured and drew condemnation from the Philippine government.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that Marcos met with the Chinese envoy, saying the discussion centered on the latest developments in the West Philippine Sea.
"It concerns national security, but we will give additional information once we are allowed to do," Castro told reporters.
Earlier in the day, Malacañang condemned what it described as the China Coast Guard's harassment and assault of Philippine personnel carrying out lawful operations within the country's exclusive economic zone.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Chinese Coast Guard personnel confronted Philippine Navy personnel near BRP Sierra Madre during a lawful mission at Ayungin Shoal. The military said one Filipino sailor was injured during the incident and condemned the encounter as another act of aggression that endangered Philippine personnel.
The Department of National Defense also denounced the confrontation, calling it another act of violence and harassment against Filipino servicemen in the West Philippine Sea.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) likewise condemned the incident, describing any act of violence against Filipino personnel as unacceptable and saying the government would pursue appropriate diplomatic action.
China, however, rejected the Philippine account of the incident.
Beijing accused Philippine personnel of provoking the confrontation and maintained that the China Coast Guard acted in accordance with the law. Chinese authorities also claimed they allowed the evacuation of the injured Filipino sailor on humanitarian grounds, an account rejected by the Philippine military, which insisted its personnel acted professionally and lawfully throughout the encounter.
The diplomatic tensions escalated further after China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz in Beijing over the same incident. Hours later, President Marcos called in Ambassador Jing Quan to formally convey the Philippines' protest over China's actions.
The meeting marked one of the strongest diplomatic steps taken by the Marcos administration in response to recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea. It was also among the rare occasions that the President personally summoned the Chinese ambassador to Malacañang over a maritime dispute.
The latest confrontation also drew international concern.
The United States condemned what it described as China's "dangerous and escalatory actions" at Ayungin Shoal and urged Beijing to stop its "illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions" in the South China Sea.
Ayungin Shoal, internationally known as Second Thomas Shoal, lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The 2016 Arbitral Award also affirmed that the feature falls within the Philippines' maritime entitlements and invalidated China's sweeping claims over most of the South China Sea. China, however, continues to reject the ruling and asserts its claim over the area.
The latest incident is expected to further heighten tensions between Manila and Beijing as the Philippine government continues to assert its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea while pursuing diplomatic measures in response to China's actions.
Jul 21, 2026
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
