PH: Latest Ayungin incident China’s deliberate act

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Monday the June 17 incident in Ayungin Shoal between the Philippine troops and China Coast Guard was not a misunderstanding. 

Teodoro said the Philippine government is not downplaying the incident. 

He said what transpired was an aggressive and illegal use of force by the Chinese forces.

''We see the latest incident in Ayungin not as a misunderstanding or an accident. It is a deliberate act of the Chinese officialdom to prevent us from completing our mission. After our visit to our troops in Palawan yesterday, where the President personally talked to the troops involved in the RORE, we have now come to a conclusion that it was not a misunderstanding or an accident,'' Teodoro said during a Palace briefing.

''We are not downplaying the incident. It was an aggressive and illegal use of force,'' he added.

Teodoro said the Philippine government would continue to find peaceful solutions as regards the issue.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said the Philippines was considering summoning Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian over the June 17 incident in the Ayungin Shoal.

"The secretary (Eduardo Manalo) will be here later tonight and that things will kick in on the possibilities,'' Lazaro told reporters. 

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the Ayungin incident could still not be considered as an armed attack as the latter could be defined as the use of military force or an excessive use of force that could trigger collective self defense.

''Even doon sa Article 51 ng UN Charter, at saka sa MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty) hindi siya magpo-fall sa definition ng armed attack. But the PRC violates a lot of international and domestic laws including use of illegal force, violation of... Convention on Collision at Sea at SOLAS, International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea at saka Declaration of Conduct, dapat doon lahat ng member states should exercise self restraint and always opt the use of peaceful means to settle disputes,'' he explained.

Meanwhile, China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated that Ren’ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal) was Chinese territory.and Philippine vessels had illegally intruded into its adjacent waters.

"The Philippines should stop making provocations and infringing on China’s sovereignty, return to the right track of properly settling maritime differences through negotiation and consultation as soon as possible, and work with China to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea," said the ministry spokesperson.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has confirmed that a Philippine Navy serviceman was severely hurt in a collision between a Chinese ship and a Filipino vessel performing rotation and resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal.

Despite a Filipino sailor losing his thumb, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin earlier said the incident was not an armed attack, but a misunderstanding or accident.

In a separate press conference, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the June 17 incident should never happen again.

“We are very saddened over China's very aggressive behavior. We bemoan the aggressive nature of the Chinese Coast Guard and the Chinese Navy assets. We are very, very upset. We protest the unfortunate incident that happened and I hope that doesn't happen again. But I've told and I believe that we can all share the sentiment that China should de-escalate tension,” Romualdez said.

“The disputes in the West Philippine Sea will not be resolved today, maybe not tomorrow. But let us work for a peaceful resolution to all of that,” Romualdez added.

Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns Andres Centino, meanwhile, said that invoking the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) is not yet being considered despite the June 17 incident in Ayungin Shoal. 

Centino, however, said the Philippine government is concerned with the incident. 

There were calls for Marcos to convene the National Security Council, however, it is not needed for Año.

He, however, said the final decision lies with the President.

''At this moment, the situation in Ayungin and the issues in the West Philippine Sea are effectively being managed by the National Maritime Council, In fart, nag-convene na rin  iyong National Maritime Council  and acting on the direction  of the President,'' he said.

''So, at this moment, we are not recommending the  convening of the National Security Council. However, the President has the discretion to convene the full council or the Executive committee anytime,'' he added.

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. had said the country will not use force or intimidation or deliberately inflict injury or harm to anyone amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos said the country is not in the business to instigate wars as ''our great ambition is to provide a peaceful and prosperous life for every Filipino.'' 

The President also commended the 80 soldiers who took part in the June 17 RORE mission. He conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kampilan on Seaman First Class Underwater Operator Jeffrey Facundo, and the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kamagi to 79 other military personnel who took part in the mission.

Meanwhile, the Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) commended the heroic and professional conduct of the Philippine Navy officers and men during the RORE mission.

''In spite of escalatory actions of China seagoing elements in [the] West Philippine Sea, our navy personnel exercised extreme caution and unequalled patience to successfully complete their mission amidst undue harassment and risk of physical harm,'' the AGFO said in a press statement.—AOL/NB/RF, GMA Integrated News