Lorenzana: China vowed not to block PH boats again
BY VICTOR REYES and ASHZEL HACHERO
DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday said the military resupply mission for troops stationed in one of the Philippine-occupied areas in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea will continue this week after it was aborted last week due to harassment by Chinese Coast Guard vessels.
This as Lorenzana blasted China for justifying the harassment of the two military-contracted civilian supply boats which the Chinese foreign ministry said trespassed into Chinese territory.
Asked if the mission will be escorted by vessels of the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to ensure their safety, Lorenzana said: “No Coast Guard or Navy escort.”
“The Chinese will not interfere per my conversation with the Chinese Ambassador (Huang Xilian),” he added.
Lorenzana said he and Huang have been talking “since the evening of the 16th while the incident was happening until yesterday, 20 November.”
On whether he believes China will keep its word not to interfere with the resupply mission, Lorenzana said: “We will see if they are true to their word as our Navy will proceed with the resupply this week.”
The boats were on their way to the Ayungin Shoal, about 174 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, on November 16 when two Chinese vessels blocked them while a third Chinese vessel and fired water cannons, forcing the Philippine boats to abort their mission. No one was hurt but the outrigger of one of the boats was damaged.
The United States on Friday called Chinese actions in the South China Sea “dangerous, provocative, and unjustified,” and warned that an armed attack on Philippine vessels would invoke US mutual defense commitments.
Yesterday, more countries expressed support for the Philippines, among them Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Australia.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr, concurrent chairman of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, on Thursday condemned the Chinese harassment as they asserted the country’s sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal.
On Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian sought to justify the act of the Chinese Coast Guard vessels, saying the Filipino boats “trespassed” into Chinese territory and the Chinese vessels “performed official duties in accordance with law and upheld China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime order.”
Responding to the Chinese statement, Lorenzana said: “They are the one’s violating our sovereign rights within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone).”
“Our EEZ, 200 NM (nautical miles) from Philippine mainland, was granted to the Philippines by the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) which, by the way, was ratified by China,” he added.
Thus, Lorenzana said, China has no right to restrict any Philippine activity at the Ayungin Shoal, occupied by Filipino troops onboard a Navy ship, BRP Sierra Madre that was grounded in the area 1999.
“Therefore they have no right to impede, prevent or harass our ships within our EEZ whether we are fishing or bringing supplies to our detachment in the Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal,” said Lorenzana.
Esperon yesterday would not say when the resupply mission at the Ayungin Shoal will continue.
“We will continue (the resupply mission) but we wont say to you (media) when… We don’t need to complicate it. But we will resupply as soon as possible,” he said.
Esperon said only the PCG or BFAR will escort the mission “if needed.”
Esperon said there is an explicit order to Wescom to continue the resupply mission. “What will the troops eat? They still have food but of course we have to resupply,” he said.
Earlier yesterday, AFP Western Command (Wescom) chief Vice Adm. Ramil Roberto Enriquez said he was instructed by Lorenzana and AFP chief Lt. Gen. Andres Centino to resume the mission. He said the resupply mission will be carried out by the same boats that were harassed by the Chinese.
Enriquez said the repair work on the damaged boat was expected to be completed yesterday. He said they were hoping to test the boat yesterday and dispatch it to Ayungin Shoal as soon as possible.
Asked if he fears the boats will be again water-cannoned, Enriquez said: “Of course the fear is there. We are hoping that our colleagues in Manila have done their part in talking with their Chinese counterparts. But to us, we will continue with our duty.”
VESSEL REDUCTION
Enriquez also reported a reduction in the number of Chinese Coast Guard vessels in Ayungin Shoal, from three on Tuesday last week to two as of Saturday night.
He likewise said Chinese maritime militia vessels have also left the shoal. Esperon earlier said there were 19 Chinese militia vessels in the shoal about a week ago.
“As of kaninang hating gabi, yung dating tatlong Chinese Coast Guard ay naging dalawa na lang. (As of last night, the earlier three Chinese Coast Guard is now only two),” added Enriquez.
In Pag-asa island, about 280 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa City, Enriquez said there are 26 number Chinese maritime vessels and one Chinese Coast Guard vessel in the area.
Esperon earlier said there were 45 Chinese maritime militia vessels monitored in the island as of last week.
Enriquez said Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who went to Pag-asa Island on Saturday, personally saw the Chinese presence in the Pag-asa Island and the condition of the Filipino troops in the area.
“Ngayong araw na to ay dalawampu’t anim na lang din yung nandun sa Pag-asa so kumunti. (as of today, there are only 26 in Pagasa, so there is a decrease),” said Enriquez.
Enriquez said they always monitor Chinese maritime vessels in Pag-asa Island, at an average of 20 to 30.
On China’s radio challenge of the aircraft that transported Lacson to and from Pag-asa Island, Lorenzana said: “That (radio challenges) have been going (on) as far as I can remember.”
“We were also challenged the two times (when) we went there,” said Lorenzana, referring to his earlier visits to the island.
Lorenzana said usual response to such radio challenge by the Chinese is “we are flying over Philippine air space, sovereign territory or something to that effect.”
“They (Chinese) also broadcast that challenge to other foreign planes or aircraft. But nobody is heeding them,” Lorenzana also said.
SUPPORT
After the United States, among other countries that expressed support for the Philippines were Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Australia.
Canadian Ambassador Peter MacArthur said China’s action risked escalating the tension in the area and is inconsistent with international law.
“Recent provocative actions taken against the Philippines are inconsistent with obligations of all countries under international law and risk escalation of tensions, to the detriment of peace, security and prosperity,” MacArthur said.
He said that Canada stands by the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea and the 2016 South China Sea arbitration, referring to the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that ruled in favor of Manila and invalidated Beijing’s massive claim in the disputed waters.
French Ambassador Michele Boccoz and her German counterpart, Anke Reffeinstuel, said their respective countries shared the same “serious concerns” on the incident. They called on all parties to refrain from conduct that endangers stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
They said their countries “firmly support dialogue between stakeholders on the basis of international law, particularly the UNCLOS.”
Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson said, “We continue to work with and support our Philippine partners on maritime issues and are concerned with recent destabilizing incidents in the South China Sea.”
The Japanese Embassy in Manila also echoed the same statement.
“Japan strongly opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas. Compliance with the 2016 arbitral award and the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes based on international law and UNCLOS are vital for peace and prosperity in the region,” the embassy said.
UNFRIENDLY WARNINGS
Lacson personally experienced unfriendly warnings from the Chinese Navy while on board a private plane heading for Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan on Saturday.
Ashley Acedillo, spokesman of the Partido Reporma party under which Lacson is running for president in next year’s elections, said he was with Lacson and party on board a private Pilatus PC-12 aircraft manned by Captains John Donguines and Geo Villacasin when they received a radio message from the Chinese Navy.
Also with Lacson were party president and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, party secretary general and Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib, senatorial candidate Guillermo Eleazar, and National Unity Party chairman Ronaldo Puno.
Lacson’s group came from Puerto Princesa City and was on its way to Pag-asa Island for their scheduled visit and consultation with local residents and soldiers occupying the island.
“You are approaching our military zone. Please stay away from the area and leave immediately. Your actions are unfriendly and dangerous. Your actions are dangerous… This is Chinese Navy. You are approaching our military alert zone. Leave immediately in order to avoid misjudgment,” Acedillo said, quoting the Chinese Navy.
He said the pilots responded with calm to defuse the tension.
Acedillo said as part of standard procedures, they have coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines their flight to Pag-asa Island.
Lacson said he found it unusual that they will get radio warning messages from the Chinese Navy while they are still within Philippine territory.
He also found it odd when he received a text notification on his phone with the message “Welcome to China” as they landed on Pag-asa Island. — With Raymond Africa
