Over 200 diplomatic protests filed vs China since 2022 – DFA

A Chinese vessel is seen firing a water cannon at the BRP Pagbuaya, a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on Sunday, October 12, 2025. The Chinese vessel later rammed the BRP Pagbuaya. (Photo from Jay Tarriela/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine government has lodged over 200 diplomatic protest since 2022 s against China over its aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro disclosed the matter on Tuesday at a hearing of the Senate finance subpanel deliberating on the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs. 

“For 2025, we have 47. [The] total since 2022 is 245. The latest diplomatic protest is what just happened recently in Bajo de Masinloc,” said Lazaro. 

While she initially claimed at the hearing that the latest diplomatic protest is filed against China for its aggression in Bajo de Masinloc, she later on clarified to reporters in an ambush interview that they have yet to file a protest.

She particularly said that they are set to file a protest for China’s aggression  on Sunday, October 12 — a separate incident from China’s Bajo de Masinloc aggression.

“It’s not easy to make a protest, we just have to get all the information from the concerned security government agencies,” said Lazaro.

“But this is in relation to Pag-asa. October 12. The National Maritime Council made a statement on that,” she added.

She said she has to go back to her office and “find out if it’s there so [she] can approve.”

Two separate incidents transpired in the West Philippine Sea recently. One on Sunday, October 12 and the other on Monday, October 13. 

According to NMC, around 8:15 on Sunday, three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels, including the 30-meter BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were anchored near Pag-asa Island to assist Filipino fisherfolk under the “Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” (KBBM) program when Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia vessels “approached and conducted dangerous maneuvers and activated their water cannons.”

By 9:15 a.m., well within the territorial sea of Pagasa Island, the CCG vessel with bow number 21559 fired a water cannon directly at BRP Datu Pagbuaya, and “deliberately” rammed its stern, causing minor damage but no injuries to the crew.

The Philippine government maintained that Pag-asa Island is a territory of the Philippines as part of the Kalayaan Island Group of Palawan province.

“The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations in and around Pag-asa Island, and will continue to do so,” the NMC said. 

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard on October 13 said Chinese vessels blocked and performed dangerous maneuvers against Philippine ships during the distribution of subsidies to Filipino fishers near Bajo de Masinloc and Escoda Shoal on Monday. 

PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea said there were 11 China Coast Guard ships monitored, 11 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, one PLA-N helicopter, and three PLA-N vessels which delayed their delivery of subsidies. /gsg