Philippines to continue resupply missions despite China coast guard action

The Philippines will continue to bring supplies to Filipino troops stationed in the West Philippine Sea even after the November 16 incident in which the Chinese Coast Guard blocked and fired water cannons at a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in waters off the Ayungin Shoal

"Walang abandonment na mangyayari. Itutuloy natin, gagawin natin lahat para makarating ang ating supplies sa kapwa Pilipino na naroon," Nograles said.

[There will be no abandonment of our people. We will soldier on, do everything we could so that the supplies can reach Filipinos stationed there in Ayungin Shoal.]

"We will continue to assert our sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal and all other areas within our jurisdiction, including our exclusive economic zone [located 200 nautical miles off our territorial waters]," he added.

China has justified the action of its coast guard, saying that the Philippine vessel "trespassed" and that Chinese forces were doing their duty to protect Chinese sovereignty.

The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, in July 2016, junked China's nine-dash claim in the South China Sea.

In the same ruling, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that the Spratly Islands, Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and Recto (Reed) Bank are within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Asked if the Palace agreed with China's comments, Nograles said, "We stand by what the Department of Foreign Affairs said."

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. on Thursday said that he had conveyed to China the Philippines’ “outrage, condemnation and protest of the incident." -NB, GMA News