The foreign ministry said it has sent two notes of protest over the Jan 29 incident off Scarborough Shoal as well as the removal of critically endangered giant clams by Chinese fishermen in the area a week earlier.
"The Philippines continues to urge China to respect the Philippines' sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc," Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told AFP on Thursday, referring to the shoal by its local name.
China must "desist from undertaking activities that not only imperil the lives, safety and livelihood of Filipino fishermen but also damage the fragile marine environment in that area", del Rosario added.
The ministry alleged three Filipino-flagged vessels were "intentionally rammed" by a vessel with Chinese coastguard markings, causing damage and endangering the crews' lives. It also alleged 24 Chinese boats harvested endangered giant clams in the area a week earlier.
Read more at Channel NewsAsia
Click here for updated South China Sea news
