Philippine Government Urged to Recall Its Envoy in Show of Protest Against China

Calls came after a Chinese coast guard ship reportedly blasted a water cannon toward a Philippine motorboat in the South China Sea.

A China Coast Guard ship and a suspected Chinese militia ship block the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Cabra as it approaches Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, during a resupply mission at the disputed South China Sea on Nov. 10, 2023. Joeal Calupitan/AP Photo

Local lawmakers are urging the Philippine government to recall its ambassador to Beijing as a strong condemnation of China’s “repeated harassment” of Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea.

This comes after a China Coast Guard ship reportedly blasted a water cannon toward a Philippine motorboat delivering supplies to troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal, also known as the Second Thomas Shoal, on Nov. 10.