AFP calls China Coast Guard a 'misplaced bully'

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has described China Coast Guard’s  (CCG) presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as misplaced bullying amid its continued aggression in the country’s territorial waters, more recently its dangerous maneuvers trying to block a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.

“What we see there is the presence of the CCG is misplaced and a bully,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

“The CCG is a misplaced bully at the WPS,” Aguilar said.

The AFP spokesperson issued the statement following the latest “harassment” of CCG and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) after they maneuvered dangerously against Philippine ships in the recent resupply mission. 

The AFP on Friday conducted another resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal.

The resupply boats were escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan.

US Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché Ray Powell said two China Coast Guard ships and 10 maritime militia vessels tried to block the Philippine ships.

Despite the efforts of the Chinese vessels, the AFP said the resupply mission was successful.

“As far as the AFP is concerned, we always refer to existing laws in defining what is [our] maritime zone right now,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar also disclosed that a Chinese rubber boat experienced “karma” while tailing Philippine ships going to the Ayungin Shoal for the resupply mission as it got entangled in a mooring line.

“One of their RHIBs (rigid hull inflatable boat) got entangled with the mooring line of a fishing boat that was near the BRP Sierra Madre,” Aguilar said.

The AFP spokesperson added that troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre offered to help, but “of course, China refused because they don’t want Filipinos to be helping them.”

“And then another boat came to the rescue. Another RHIB came to the rescue... it got entangled also in the shallow portion,” Aguilar said.

Friday's mission was the third resupply mission after the August 5 incident when the CCG used water cannons against the PCG fleet conducting a similar mission.

Another resupply mission was conducted and completed on August 22.

A Philippine ship, BRP Sierra Madre, has been grounded at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999. A dozen marines and sailors are aboard the ship, which has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory.

Ayungin Shoal is part of the Kalayaan Island Group is an integral part of the Philippines, as well as the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, over which the country has sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction.

China, for its part, expressed “firm opposition” to the resupply mission, claiming that the Philippines illegally transported construction materials to the commissioned navy ship.

It also said that CCG vessels “strictly warned the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law, tracked and monitored the vessels all the way, and effectively regulated them”.

“The CCG will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in the sea areas under China's jurisdiction according to law,” the Chinese government added.

In July 2016, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, based on a case filed by Manila, junked China's nine-dash line claim covering the entire South China Sea. Beijing has refused to acknowledge the ruling.

GMA News Online reached out to the Chinese Embassy for comment on the matter, but no response yet has been received as of posting. —KG, GMA Integrated News