Manila, July 20 -- The Department of National Defense (DND) strongly condemned the latest act of "violence and harassment" committed by China Coast Guard (CCG) members against Philippine Navy (PN) personnel stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Monday.

In a statement, DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said the incident is clearly of provocative and hostile behavior, and further contributes to the "People's Republic of China's deficit of trust and credibility."

"Against the backdrop of the PRC's circumvention of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and disregard of the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Ruling on the Sout...