ARMED Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr yesterday demanded that China return firearms and equipment its coast guard forces took from Filipino troops during the harassment of a Philippine military resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea last Monday.
Brawner also asked China to pay for the damage its forces caused during the rotation and reprovisioning (RoRe) mission to Ayungin Shoal
“We cannot allow them to just take and destroy our equipment. For me, this is piracy already because they boarded our boat illegally, they (took) our equipment. Again, they are like pirates for doing such actions,” he said in a press conference at the headquarters of the AFP Western Command (Wescom) in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.
Chinese Coast Guard personnel on board a rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) intercepted and boarded a Philippine Navy RHIB during the resupply mission.
The Chinese boarding of the Philippine Navy vessel was first reported by a Chinese newspaper. Local media in Palawan also earlier reported the theft of eight firearms and the injury to eight Filipino troops, including one who it said lost a finger.
Wescom commander Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr, in the press conference, said the Chinese took seven rifles on board the Navy RHIB, and destroyed the boat’s communication and navigational equipment, and outboard motor.
“They also took the personal phones of our personnel and other equipment on board,” said Torres, referring to the Chinese Coast Guard personnel.
Torres said the seized firearms were disassembled and were in gun cases, noting that Wescom’s instruction to the troops is not to handle firearms or show their firearms during such RoRe missions “to avoid misperception that we are conducting an armed operation.”
BOLOS, SPEARS
Torres said one of the Chinese RHIBs, while on high speed, rammed the Philippine Navy RHIB. The collision caused severe injury to Seaman First Class Jeffrey Facundo who lost his right thumb.
Brawner said the Chinese RHIB — who he said had bolos, spears, and knives — boarded the RHIB and pointed their weapons at the Filipino troops.
The Filipino troops fought back by pushing away the Chinese RHIBs with their bare hands.
“They were preventing the Chinese Coast Guard (personnel) from hitting them with their bolos, their machetes, and other bladed weapons,” he said.
Being superior in number, the Chinese succeeded in carting away the firearms and other equipment and destroyed other equipment on board the Philippine Navy RHIB, he also said.
LIMITATIONS
“We would like to remove the impression that our troops just allowed the Chinese Coast Guard to take their equipment and destroy their equipment,” said Brawner.
“We have limitations because number one, we were outnumbered,” he said adding the Chinese had eight RHIBs and two steel-hulled boats.
He said the military had firearms at the nearby BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded Navy ship where Filipino troops assigned at Ayungin Shoal are staying, but they opted not to use the guns.
“While we want to bring supplies to our troops, following international laws, our objective is also to prevent war. We don’t want a war to break out,” he said.
“Despite the very aggressive actions of the Chinese Coast Guard and the Chinese militia, we were able to restrain them from pursuing further the disruption of our (resupply) operations,” he said.
Brawner said the Chinese punctured the Philippine Navy RHIB using their bladed weapons before they disembarked.
Torres said the Chinese went close to BRP Sierra Madre and also “deliberately punctured” several rubber boats that were attached to the Navy ship.
Brawner said the Chinese harassment will not deter the military from pursuing resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal and other features occupied by Filipino troops.
“It is our right, it is our obligation to do that ,” said Brawner, adding the military will remain steadfast in protecting the country’s territory and rights in the West Philippine Sea.
RETALIATON
Implying the military will not retaliate against the Chinese, Brawner said, “We will not stoop down to the level of our aggressors which are the Chinese Coast Guard and the Chinese militia.”
“This (Chinese) behavior resulted in severe injuries to one of our Navy personnel and stands as a stark violation of international maritime law, Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights.”
“The core issue remains — the illegal presence and actions of Chinese vessels within our jurisdiction. The continued aggressive behavior of the Chinese Coast Guard is what escalates tensions in the area,” said Brawner.
He said the Chinese behavior was not only reckless and aggressive but also illegal, adding “they have no right or legal authority to hijack our operations and destroy Philippine vessels operating within our exclusive economic zone.”
China has gone aggressive in its claim over the West Philippine Sea and has harassed Philippine military resupply missions, through dangerous maneuvers, water cannoning and ramming.
Brawner, in a statement on Tuesday night, denounced the latest Chinese harassment, saying they “no right or legal authority” to interfere with a “legitimate” RoRe mission with the country’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
‘MORE VIOLENT’
The US Department of National Defense (DOD) described China’s behavior against the Philippines a “provocative, reckless and unnecessary.”
In a press briefing in US on Tuesday (US time), DOD spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder warned that China’s behavior may become more violent.
Ryder said was asked to comment on the collision of Philippines and Chinese vessels at Ayungin Shoal and how worried the DOD is about the escalation of tension between Philippines and China.
“Obviously concerning reports,” said Ryder.
“This kind of behavior is provocative. It’s reckless, it’s unnecessary, and as you highlight it, it could lead to something bigger and more violent,” said Ryder.
Ryder sad the US defense department will “continue to stand with our Philippine allies.”
“We condemn the escalatory and irresponsible actions by the PRC (People’s Republic of China) to deny the Philippines from executing a lawful maritime operation in the South China Sea,” said Ryder.
Ryder said the “Philippines rightful maritime claims must be protected.”
REPARATION
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the Philippines “must demand justice and reparation” for the injured Filipino Navy personnel and their damaged vessels as a result of what he called the Chinese Coast Guard’s “ruthless assault and aggression.”
“The government must demand from China the full identities of the culprits. The Chinese government is also liable as the principal of the culprits,” the opposition leader said in a statement.
“Government vessels are extensions of Philippine territory and sovereignty so much so that the injuries and damages sustained by Filipino naval personnel and seacraft were committed under Philippine jurisdiction,” he added.
The criminal acts of the CCG, Lagman said, also constituted a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, a vice chair of the House committee on justice, said it’s high time for the government to take a stronger stand against China.
“If they continue spitting at us, we can no longer pretend that it’s raining outside. So sooner or later we have to take a tougher stand on China on the West Philippine Sea issue,” he said.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said: “Like my suggestion last time, if they (China) go inside or trespass our territory, we should also arrest them. This is to show respect for our policies and laws in our country. We should arrest those who trespass on our territory.”
“The lack of confrontation shows that our people are peace-loving, we don’t want any conflict. That is a mere resupply mission for us, it is not a combatant unit or combatant personnel who went there because it is a resupply mission only. But the next time they do that to a Navy boat or Coast Guard, a different story may take place,” Barbers added.
Sen. Nancy Binay condemned China’s “unnecessary, insensitive, and irresponsible action.”
“I call on the Chinese Coast Guard to exercise restraint and urge them to be good friends and neighbors with the Philippines as our country is to them… If China indeed values our friendship, we want them to understand that we don’t hurt our friends,” Binay said.
ILLEGAL ACTIONS
The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday denounced what it said are the “illegal and aggressive actions” by Chinese coast guard personnel last Monday.
As it expressed grave concern over the June 17 incident, the department said it has been exerting efforts to rebuild a conducive environment for dialogue and consultation with China with regard to issues on the South China Sea.
But it added such would be difficult to achieve due to continuing Chinese aggressive activities in the area.
“This cannot be achieved if China’s words do not match their actions on the waters. We expect China to act sincerely and responsibly, and refrain from behavior that puts to risk the safety of personnel and vessels,” the DFA said.
The DFA reiterated its call to China “to adhere to international law, especially UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, and respect the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in our own waters”
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has yet to comment on the DFA’s statement.
Earlier, the Unites States, European Union, Japan, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, South Korea and New Zealand condemned the Chinese actions. — With Wendell Vigilia, Raymond Africa and Ashzel Hachero
