Kalayaan Town Condemns China Over Ayungin Shoal Clash, Says Beijing 'Living in Imperial Era'

The Municipality of Kalayaan has condemned the latest confrontation between Filipino and Chinese sailors in Ayungin Shoal, adding that Beijing is still living in the "Imperial Era." China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel attacked and injured members of the Philippine Navy at Ayungin Shoal on Monday. One of the Filipino sailors from the BRP Sierra Madre needed to be medically evacuated after being struck on the head with a wooden baton. Philippine officials have slammed the latest incident, calling the CCG’s behavior unacceptable. Kalayaan is the sole municipality in the West Philippine Sea. It is under the jurisdiction of the province of Palawan. In a statement on Wednesday, the Kalayaan local government unit (LGU) stressed that Ayungin Shoal is part of its municipality. "Their mere presence itself is illegal and intimidating. So much with the barbarism and violence. It seems that the People's Republic of China through their China Coast Guard still lives in the Imperial Era where violence knows no modern diplomatic civilization," the town said in a statement. Kalayaan called these latest actions from China illogical, bearing no respect for sovereignty. "We support the protests of the national agencies and recommendations to sanction China for their usurping and violent acts at sea. We also call for unity of all Filipino people to rally for our cause in the West Philippine Sea---for the issue at hand is beyond political spectrum, politicians and their colors, it is the concern of every Filipino who have faith that our nation's future lies on our deeply rooted investment on Patriotism and Nationalism," the municipality added. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the incident and summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to Malacañang to discuss matters of national security. The Palace has yet to disclose more details on the meeting, but Quan described the meeting as "constructive." Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Pasay, where she conveyed Manila’s protest at the recent confrontation. —RF, GMA News