China wanted to intimidate PH resupply mission, says AFP

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said intimidation was China’s objective with its latest aggressions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

On Friday, the National Task Force-WPS said Beijing performed “dangerous maneuvers” in the disputed waters during the Philippines’ recent resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.

“It is also very dangerous that these maneuvers are being conducted by China because it is really hard to control the vessels. So an accident may happen,” said AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar in Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras."

Aguilar also said Beijing’s actions should be raised on the international stage.

“What we are seeing is the ‘mounting pressure’ against China because of their illegal and offensive action in the WPS,” he said.

“We are also making sure that the correct narrative is being heard in the international community,” he added.

GMA Integrated News witnessed first-hand the aggressions of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) against the Philippine vessels in its latest resupply mission.

The CCG vessels repeatedly attempted to block the two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships escorting the two resupply boats while two Chinese Navy ships were spotted within the vicinity waters. One of the Chinese ships also tried to come close to the Filipino ships.

Both Coast Guard personnel exchanged radio transmissions.

“China Coast Guard 21616 this is BRP Sindangan 4407 conducting lawful maritime patrol within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” the PCG said.

To which the CCG answered: “Philippine Coast Guard vessel, this is China Coast Guard 5305. In the spirit of humanism, we will only permit the entry of vessels carrying food and other necessary materials for the remaining personnel of the illegally grounded vessel 57."

Meanwhile, the US P8 Poseidon aircraft monitored the incident.

The AFP last week announced it successfully conducted another replenishment mission to troops stationed at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

This is 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 in the West Philippine Sea 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 and 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. —Sundy Locus/LDF/KG, GMA Integrated News