GOVERNMENT is considering taking “more resolute” actions in response to China’s increased aggression in the West Philippine Sea in the South China, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said yesterday.
NTF-WPS spokesman Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the National Security Adviser Council, stressed the government is taking “very seriously” last Sunday’s Chinese-initiated collisions between Chinese and Philippine vessels near Ayungin Shoal.
China Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels made dangerous maneuvers against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and military-contracted boats delivering supplies to Filipino troops at Ayungin Shoal.
The troops are staying at the rusting Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre which was grounded at the shoal in 1999 to serve as military outpost.
One of the wooden supply boats, Unaiza Mae 2, and PCG vessel BRP Cabra were hit by a China Coast Guard vessel and a China militia vessel, respectively, during the maneuvers, causing damage to the Philippine vessels.
“What I can share right now is that the security cluster, including the President, is taking this event that happened last Sunday…very seriously,” Malaya said in an interview with CNN Philippines.
“In fact, they are considering taking more resolute steps to respond to this increased provocation and increased aggression coming from People’s Republic of China.”
Malaya refused to elaborate on the steps that are being considered to address China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea, citing “national security concerns.”
“We cannot share those with the public right now. We cannot telegraph our moves to China. Beijing does not telegraph their moves to the Philippines. So why should we?”
“I cannot share those but I was told that it’s a more resolute response, in reply to the increased provocations by Chinese vessels to our RORE (rotation and resupply) mission to Ayungin Shoal,” added Malaya.
PCG PROBE REPORT
President Marcos Jr, during a command conference on Monday, ordered the PCG to conduct a swift investigation on the incident. Malaya said the result of the investigation may be submitted to the President on Friday or Saturday.
“I would presume immediately after that report is submitted to President another Cabinet cluster meeting will be called to discuss future steps in response to these increased provocations,” said Malaya.
Malaya, in a radio interview, said the result of the PCG investigation might be used to pursue a case against China before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
Malaya noted China’s violations of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea during last Sunday’s incident.
“There is still no decision on that,” Malaya said on whether the government will be lodging a case against China before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
“It will have to be decided by the Cabinet cluster (on security) and by the President himself. So let us wait for the decision of the Cabinet (and the President) about it,” he said.
China has justified its latest actions near Ayungin, saying it was merely exercising law enforcement functions in the area. It also blamed Philippines for the collisions.
But Malaya said, “The entire world now knows that the collisions that happened in the West Philippine Sea was caused by the dangerous maneuvers of Chinese Coast Guard vessels acting in concert with the Chinese maritime militia.”
US COMMITMENT
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reiterated the commitment of US to defend Philippines in case of an armed attack.
Sullivan made the pronouncement during a phone conversation with his Philippine counterpart, Eduardo Año who is also NTF-WPS chairman.
In a readout, the White House said Sullivan “reiterated US support for our Philippine allies following the PRC (People’s Republic of China) Coast Guard and maritime militia’s dangerous and unlawful actions on October 22 obstructing a routine Philippine resupply to Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal).
It said Sullivan and Año “reaffirmed the enduring alliance and friendship between our nations.”
The two officials also discussed upcoming US and Philippine “engagements and ways to further strengthen our close partnership.”
“Mr. Sullivan emphasized the ironclad US alliance commitments to the Philippines under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), which extends to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces — to include those of its Coast Guard — in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea,” the readout added.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr and the NTF-WPS said the Philippines cannot invoke the MDT due to the Sunday collisions because of the absence of an armed attack.
“Such situations do not warrant us to invoke the MDT,” Brawner said in a radio interview.
He said only “more serious attacks” or “deliberate attacks” on Philippine ships or an attack in Philippine territory can “necessitate the invocation of the MDT.”
Article IV of the 1951 MDT says each party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific region on either parties “would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.”
The succeeding article says an armed attack is deemed to include an “armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the parties, or on the Island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.”
Malaya said there is yet no basis to invoke the MDT.
“An armed attack on a public vessel of the Philippines will be enough to trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty. However, there was no armed attack so there would be no basis for us to trigger the MDT,” he said.
Chinese vessels have harassed military resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal in the past months — two of involved pointing of military-grade laser at a PCG vessel that caused temporary blindness on the crew, and water-cannoning.
NAVY SHIPS
Brawner said they are considering sending Philippine Navy ships for resupply missions at Ayungin Shoal.
“We are studying that because we have sensitivities,” said Brawner, noting 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff between Philippine and Chinese vessels.
A Philippine Navy ship intercepted Chinese fishermen engaged in illegal fishing near the shoal at the shoal, prompting China to send their Navy ships, triggering the standoff.
Philippine vessels withdrew from the shoal, allowing China to gain control of the shoal since then.
“We are looking at all possibilities. We are studying if we can use our faster ships next time,” said Brawner.
Brawner said using aircraft to deliver supplies is also being considered. He said they have undertaken such operation before but were not able to transport enough supplies.
“But again we are looking into possibilities, we have a lot of options,” said Brawner.
Malaya said the government is also considering deploying additional ships to patrol the West Philippine Sea.
“That’s on the table. That’s being discussed by our National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea and also by the Cabinet — if we are going to send additional ships or larger ships. All these are on the table and unfortunately, I cannot share all of those options right now for reasons of national security,” said Malaya.
AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar, at the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” public briefing, confirmed the military is considering deploying additional ships to secure resupply missions.
“This is being considered because what we want to accomplish actually is a successful RORE (rotation and resupply) mission without interference from any party. So all these are being considered and even other modes of resupply, we can consider that also,” said Aguilar.