Japan, China envoys in word war

The Japanese embassy in Manila lashed back at the Chinese embassy yesterday after the latter filed a formal protest questioning statements made by Japan Ambassador Endo Kazuya on the ramming of a Philippine vessel by a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal last Sunday.

- Michael Punongbayan

The Japanese embassy pointed out that the Chinese embassy’s argument “contains serious misrepresentations on diverse matters, over which Japan’s basic positions have been expressed previously as described in the footnotes.”

“We will not repeat here our positions on each of the points raised as we do not wish to divert attention from the central issue, which is the recent dangerous actions in the South China Sea (SCS),” the Japanese embassy said.