Beijing has asked the Philippines to avoid interfering in patrol and law enforcement operations of Chinese coast guards, as it defended the activities of its ship that reportedly figured in “close distance maneuvering” with a Filipino vessel in the waters around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal early this month. The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over the incident, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. “Huangyan Dao is China’s inherent territory. China has sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a briefing on Monday in Beijing, referring to Panatag Shoal by its Chinese name.

Lee-Brago, P., Romero, P., Felipe, C. S., & Ramirez, R. (2022, March 30). China tells Phl to stop 'interfering' in sea patrols. The Philippine Star, p. 2.