MALACAÑANG welcomed the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA's) filing of a diplomatic protest over China’s new law allowing its Coast Guard to fire on foreign vessels and said this won't affect the ongoing negotiations for the vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) with Chinese manufacturers.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the move of the DFA was consistent with the position of the Duterte administration.