BRP Sierra Madre resupply mission with other countries a possibility — Brawner

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday said there is a chance for a joint resupply mission with other countries to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

“That's a possibility. Tinitignan natin lahat ng mga (We are looking at all) options,” Brawner said when asked what he thinks of a joint rotation and resupply missions with other countries.

Other options include using Navy ships for the resupply mission considering that BRP Sierra Madre is also a Navy vessel, according to the Philippine military chief.

Asked if this would involve other countries, Brawner said they are still studying it.

A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel had collided with an AFP-contracted boat going to the Ayungin Shoal to resupply the personnel staying on the BRP Sierra Madre.

During the same mission, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel MRRV 4409’s port side was also “bumped” by Chinese maritime militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003).

According to Philippine officials, China vessels have been blocking the resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre.

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.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and filed a diplomatic protest over the incident.

“We are making full use of diplomatic processes and are exercising all possible actions available to us. That includes summoning the Chinese ambassador this morning,” DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said at a news conference on Monday.

A strongly-worded diplomatic protest enumerated the CCG's violations after hitting two Philippine vessels and expressed Manila's displeasure and deep  concern over the incident.

“We have every right to carry out legitimate activities in our maritime zones. We do not accept any form of interference,” Daza said, adding that China, as a big country, should be responsible in contributing to the peace and stability in the region.

In response, Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong said he conveyed “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition of the Chinese side to the Philippine side over its vessels’ intrusion over its so-called waters.”

The Chinese official maintained that Ayungin Shoal, which he referred to as  Ren’ai Jiao, “is part of China’s Nansha Qundao and China’s territory.”

Zhou repeated Beijing’s call “to tow away the illegally ‘grounded’ warship as soon as possible so that the peace and stability of the South China Sea will not be jeopardized and the common interests of countries in the region will not be affected.”

Freedom of navigation

In a separate radio interview, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the recent incident will invite more countries who have an interest in freedom of navigation to join the Philippines in its activities.

“Not only in joint sails but in other security engagements with the Philippines,” he said.

“To include capability upgrades, intelligence exchanges and other defense mil to mil and defense to defense cooperation agreements. To include defense industries in the country,” he added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News