China on Ayungin Shoal incident: Our vessels’ maneuvers were professional and restrained

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin has said that the maneuvers of their vessels during the June 30 incident in Ayungin Shoal were “professional and restrained.”

“In accordance with the law, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel carried out law enforcement activities to uphold China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime order. The Chinese side’s maneuvers were professional and restrained,” Wang  said at a press conference on Thursday.

He insisted said the Ren’ai Reef (Ayungin Shoal) was part of China’s Nansha Islands, adding that it was the PCG vessels that supposedly intruded Chinese waters.

“The Ren’ai Reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands. On June 30, the Philippine Coast Guard vessels intruded into the waters off the Ren’ai Reef without Chinese permission,” he added. 

On Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that Chinese vessels made dangerous maneuvers near Philippine vessels that could have caused a collision.

The PCG said two Chinese Coast Guard vessels numbered 5201 and 4203 made “dangerous maneuvers” near Ayungin Shoal on June 30.

According to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG had deployed its vessels BRP Malabrigo and BRP Malapascua to assist the resupply mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the area.

After the incident, another CCG vessel with body number 3103 went to Ayungin Shoal from Bajo Masinloc to “reinforce” the two CCG vessels.

Tarriela said six Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels also swarmed the area and blocked the Philippine ship from going to Ayungin Shoal.

He said two People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships, 629 and 620, were also seen in the area.

‘Alarming’

“This is particularly alarming as the Philippine Navy's naval operation is solely humanitarian in nature. Despite this, the Chinese have deployed their warships, raising even greater concerns,” Tarriela said in a statement.

United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III has also raised his concern over the alleged harassment of Philippine vessels by Chinese vessels in Ayungin Shoal.

Austin expressed his concern over China’s “coercive and risky” behavior during a call to Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Thursday (US time), according to a readout provided by Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder.

“Secretary Austin noted with concern the PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) recent coercive and risky operational behavior directed against Philippine vessels operating safely and lawfully in the South China Sea, including around Second Thomas Shoal,” Pentagon’s readout said.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko had also criticized China for its “dangerous behavior” in the South China Sea.

“As China’s unilateral actions, such as repeated intrusions into Japan’s waters around the Senkaku Islands in the ECS (East China Sea), China's dangerous behavior in the South China Sea in defiance of the 2016 arbitration award is a grave concern for regional peace and stability,” Kazuhiko said on Twitter.

Also on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian paid a courtesy call on Teodoro to discuss China and the Philippines’ defense and military relations as well as maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

“We had a constructive discussion on promoting defense and military relations between China and the Philippines, and maintaining peace and stability in the region,” Huang said of his meeting with Teodoro.

In July 2016, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, based on a case filed by the Philippines, junked China’s nine-dash line claim covering the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.

China has refused to acknowledge the ruling. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News