Brawner: China has no right to tell PH not to repair BRP Sierra Madre

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday said China has no right opposing the repair of Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

“So for me, China has no right to tell us not to repair that while they themselves have created these artificial islands,” he said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

“Hindi naman tayo nakialam. Hindi naman natin sinabi, 'Don't do that.' Hindi naman natin sinabi, 'Don't bring missile systems into these artificial islands.' Sila ngayon kinalampag. Napakalaking imbalance,” he added.

(We did not meddle. We didn’t tell them ‘don’t do that’. We didn’t tell them ‘don't bring missile systems into these artificial islands’. They were called out just now. There is a big imbalance.)

Brawner pointed out that the Philippines has the right to repair BRP Sierra Madre because it is a commissioned Philippine Navy ship even if it is stuck on Ayungin Shoal.

Responding to Brawner's remarks, the Chinese Embassy insisted that Ayungin Shoal, which it calls Ren’ai Jiao, "is China’s territory."

"By sending a military ship to 'ground' at Ren’ai Jiao, the Philippines has gravely violated China’s territorial sovereignty," the embassy said in a statement sent to GMA News Online.

Earlier this month, the Philippines has started “superficial repairs” to the rundown BRP Sierra Madre grounded in Ayungin Shoal.

The AFP said materials for the repairs were being delivered to the dilapidated naval ship.

“It was sad to see the state of the living conditions. We're trying to improve that by making sure they have at least decent sleeping facilities, decent dining facilities, internet,” Brawner said then.

“We can just do superficial repairs on it,” he added.

The BRP Sierra Madre has been aground 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.

China has taken exception to the Philippine resupply mission held earlier this month, saying the Filipino ships illegally entered the area without their permission and illegally delivered construction materials.

Ayungin Shoal is located 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan and constitutes part of the country's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf as provided under a United Nations convention. — with a report from Michaela del Callar/KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News