In The Aftermath Of Tensions In The South China Sea, The Philippines Summons Chinese Ambassador

JAKARTA - The Philippine Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that it had summoned the Chinese Ambassador to Manila, to protest "repeated harassment" in the South China Sea on the weekend, in which ships of the two countries engaged in tensions in disputed territorial waters.

Manila has asked China to direct its ships to stop doing what it says is illegal and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine ships, stopping interfering with the Philippines' legitimate activities, the ministry said in a statement.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro verbally protested against Chinese maneuvers that caused the collision, and against the use of water cannons on Philippine ships that delivered supplies to troops stationed on old warships in Second Thomas Shoal.

"Chinese ship action in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines is illegal and violates freedom of navigation," the ministry said.

They also protested the use of water cannons by China against three fishing bureau ships on their way to send oil and foodstuffs to fishermen near the shallow waters of Scarborough.

Separately, the Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Beijing and Manila exchanged accusations on Sunday over tensions between the two countries in Second Thomas Shoal, with the Philippines calling China's actions a "serious escalation".

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested what it said was a collision on Sunday, but the Philippines said China's coast guard and maritime militias repeatedly fired water cannons at their supply vessels, causing "serious engine damage" to one of the ships and "deliberately" crashing into another.

This is not the first time China has used water cannons on Philippine ships on supply missions in the South China Sea. In August, the Philippines postponed a two-week resupply mission after their ships were sprayed.

Maritime confrontations between the Philippines and China at the weekend came less than a month after leaders of the two countries met on the sidelines of the APEC summit in San Francisco, United States last month, formulating future steps in the South China Sea.