PCG says China rammed PH boat; China says PH shouldn't use resupply excuse

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said China Coast Guard (CCG) blocked and rammed Philippine boats performing medical evacuation in the West Philippine Sea, but Beijing accused Manila anew of attempting to transport construction supplies to permanently occupy Ayungin Shoal in WPS.

On Friday, PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela reported that CCG vessels intentionally rammed a Philippine Navy rigid hull inflatable boat despite informing the Chinese side about the humanitarian nature of the mission.

The mission was to evacuate a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines stationed at BRP Sierra Madre, who was sick, and needed immediate medical attention.

At a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that “if the Philippines notifies the Chinese side in advance, we can allow delivery of living necessities to the grounded warship or evacuation of personnel concerned.”

“However, the Philippines should not use this as an excuse for delivering construction materials in an attempt to permanently occupy Ren’ai Jiao,” Mao said.

'Unacceptable'

In response, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año dismissed the statement by the China Foreign Ministry as ''absurd, nonsense, and unacceptable.''

 ''We do not and will never need China’s approval for any of our activities therein,'' Año said.

''We emphasize that the Philippines will continue to maintain and supply our outposts in the West Philippine Sea, including the BRP Sierra Madre, without seeking permission from any other nation. Our operations are conducted within our own territorial waters and EEZ, and we will not be deterred by foreign interference or intimidation,'' he added.

Año reiterated that the Philippines remains open to dialogue and peaceful negotiations to resolve maritime disputes.

''However, such dialogue must be based on mutual respect and adherence to international law,'' he said.

Tarriela also said that the Philippine government is under no obligation to seek permission from China, which he described as a “country that has illegally and provocatively deployed their forces within our Exclusive Economic Zone.”

The PCG official added that China “must remember that Ayungin Shoal is located approximately 105 nautical miles away from the nearest coastline of Palawan.”

“Therefore, China does not have any jurisdiction over these waters. The recent incident involving the obstruction of a medical evacuation highlights the inhumane actions of the Chinese government, as they demonstrate a disregard for safety and the preservation of life,” Tarriela said.

Año, meanwhile, described the latest incident as ''barbaric and inhumane.''

GMA News Online has reached out to Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. and Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza to get their comments on China's statement and will publish their replies as soon as possible.

The BRP Sierra Madre is a Philippine Navy vessel that ran aground in Ayungin Shoal. It has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

READ: EXPLAINER: What is the Ayungin Shoal and why is it important?

China calls Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal as Ren'ai Jiao as it asserts claims to the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone or the West Philippine Sea.

Beijing's claims, however, was challenged and an international tribunal, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), declared its claims as having no legal basis in 2016. China however has since been rejecting to honor the decision.

The PCA also found that Ayungin Shoal “form part of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines [and] are not overlapped by any possible entitlement of China.” —with Vince Angelo Ferreras/KG/VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News