The Philippines dismissed on Friday the Chinese Embassy's assertion of unlawful claim over the waters off Batanes.

"The Department firmly and strongly rejects the Chinese Embassy’s assertion that China has sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the waters off Batanes," said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a statement on Friday.

The DFA issued its statement after Guo Wei, the deputy spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy, claimed that the Chinese research vessel that was driven away by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) from the waters off Batanes was allegedly "conducting normal operations in waters under China’s jurisdiction, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS."

"The Philippine Coast Guard’s harassment of the Chinese research vessel infringes upon China’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the relevant waters, violates international law and the norms governing international relations and endangers the safety of Chinese vessels and personnel," said Guo.

"China firmly opposes and condemns this. China has taken, and will continue to take, resolute measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," he added.

The DFA "affirms that the Philippine Coast Guard was conducting lawful and routine law enforcement operations in response to a suspected unauthorized Marine Scientific Research (MSR) activity in the waters off Batanes."

"Under Article 246 of UNCLOS, marine scientific research in the EEZ and on the continental shelf shall be conducted with the consent of the coastal State. The Philippines did not receive any request from the Chinese side and no consent has been given to any Chinese vessel to conduct MSR," it stated.

"We strongly call on China to fulfill its obligations under international law and avoid actions that are counter-productive and undermine efforts to rebuild mutual trust," it added.

The DFA also noted that "the Philippines will continue to uphold the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its EEZ peacefully and responsibly in accordance with international law." Robina Asido/PHS