And in a fiery statement, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the West Philippine Sea, shot back at the Chinese Embassy over their claim that it was the Filipino servicemen from the BRP Sierra Madre who started the violent confrontation between the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Philippine Navy (PN) on Monday, July 20.

Tarriela emphasized that his country's military personnel are well-trained and respectful of international law.

'If there is any party here that provokes and escalates tension, it is only the unruly and barbaric China Coast Guard personnel who clearly do not understand Unclos,'" Tarriela said, referencing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which governs maritime rights and responsibilities.

But what is Unclos, exactly?

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) is an international treaty that came into effect on November 16, 1994, aimed at regulating the use of the world's oceans and their resources. The treaty defines the concept of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is an area of the sea over which a country has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources.

The Philippines has been a signatory to Unclos since 1997, and has been actively asserting its rights over the West Philippine Sea, which it considers an integral part of its territory.

The dispute between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea has a long history, dating back to the 1970s.

In 2013, the Philippines filed a case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, claiming that the Chinese government's activities in the West Philippine Sea, including its construction of artificial islands and deployment of military personnel, were in violation of Unclos.

The court ruled in 2016 that China had committed several violations of Unclos, including its claim to historic rights over the West Philippine Sea.

Despite the ruling, China has continued to assert its claims over the West Philippine Sea, leading to frequent confrontations with the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard.

The latest confrontation occurred on Monday, July 20, when the China Coast Guard and Philippine Navy clashed in the West Philippine Sea.

According to Tarriela, the Philippine Navy personnel were simply exercising their right to navigate through the area, as allowed by Unclos.

"We are in our own waters, and we will not be intimidated by the actions of the China Coast Guard," Tarriela said.

The incident has sparked outrage among Filipinos, who are calling for the government to take a stronger stance against China's aggressive behavior.

As the dispute between the Philippines and China continues to escalate, one thing is clear: the West Philippine Sea is a region of great tension, and both countries will have to find a way to resolve their differences peacefully.