The Department of Foreign Affairs said it summoned Ambassador Ma Keqing to lodge the complaint and also to object to the arrival of a military-escorted Chinese fishing fleet near the contested Spratly Islands.
The Chinese defense ministry announced plans to operate troops from Chinese-held Sansha or Woody Island in the Paracels on Monday, a month after Beijing designated the island as China's administrative center for both the Paracel and Spratly groups.
While the Philippines does not have territorial claims on the Paracels, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the Chinese plan to administer both island groups from Sansha was unacceptable.
"The Philippine government has expressed its grave concern and registered its strong protest over the Chinese government decision to establish a military garrison in Woody Reef," Hernandez told reporters.
China claims sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, which is believed to hold vast amounts of oil and gas, while the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam each claim portions.
Disputes have flared in recent weeks, with Vietnam and the Philippines criticizing what they call Chinese encroachment.
China and South Vietnam once administered different parts of the Paracels but after a brief conflict in 1974, Beijing took control of the islands.
The Philippine Coast Guard monitored a fleet of 29 fishing vessels, a cargo vessel, and three other ships including one Chinese navy vessel near Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef on July 18, Hernandez said.
"The use of armed government vessels to escort fishing vessels that conduct non-fishing activities is a violation of Philippine territory and a violation of (the) obligation of states under international law," Hernandez said.-Interaksyon (July 24, 2012 6:05PM)
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