Says latest WPS incident not an accident
DEFENSE and security officials yesterday said the recent harassment by China of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea is not a misunderstanding or an accident but a “deliberate” and “aggressive” act aimed at preventing regular rotation and reprovision (RoRe) activities for troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, they also said the schedule of the resupply missions will not be publicized, contrary to earlier pronouncements of government officials.
The missions will continue, said Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., reading a joint statement of the Department of National Defense (DND), the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“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,” the statement said.
Teodoro said the government came up with the conclusion following the visit of President Marcos to the military’s Western Command in Palawan on Sunday.
“We are not downplaying the incident. It was an act of aggressive and illegal use of force.
We, however, continue to find peaceful solutions to this issue. As pointed out by the President, ‘we are not in the business to instigate wars,’” the statement said.
Teodoro, in an interview, said the statement issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last Friday, that the June 17 incident was “a misunderstanding and an accident,” was a preliminary assessment at that time.
“We are not downplaying the incident. It was an aggressive and illegal use of force,” he said.
On the resupply missions, Teodoro said, “We seek neither permission nor consent from anyone in performing our sworn duties in the West Philippine Sea. In this regard we will continue our rotation and resupply missions on a regular basis, the welfare of our troops in the BRP Sierra Madre being a matter of utmost importance.”
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, at the briefing, said publication of the RoRe schedule was just part of the recommendations of the National Maritime Council chaired by Bersamin, “but the President has decided there will be no publication of future RoRe.”
Teodoro also said the Philippines has not changed its stand on the territorial issue and, as President Marcos Jr. declared, the government “will not give up an inch, not even a millimeter of the country’s territory to any foreign power.”
“We will continue to defend our territory and exercise sovereign rights thereon as we see fit,” he added.
On June 17, Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels rammed a Philippine government supply boat bound for Ayungin Shoal, and brandished bladed and pointed weapons. A Filipino soldier lost a thumb during the confrontation.
‘DELIBERATE INCIDENT’
The President on Sunday visited the troops involved in the RoRe mission at the Western Command (Wescom) in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan to personally know what happened.
Teodoro said following the meeting of the President with the troops, it was concluded that the incident was a “deliberate incident.”
He also said the morale of the Armed Forces remains high despite the incident.
Teodoro reiterated that the Philippines continues to find peaceful solutions to the territorial issue, echoing the pronouncement of the President that the country is not in the business of instigating wars but is a responsible state that would “continue to exercise our freedoms and rights in support of our national interest, in accordance with international law.”
NSC Assistant Director General and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said China’s behavior in last week incident was not act of war.
“I think the purpose of the action of China was to disrupt our mission, through that kind of aggression,” he said at the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” public briefing.
“Is it an act of war? It doesn’t look like an act of war. It is an act of China purposely to prevent the mission. They did it in an aggressive manner,” he said.
Chinese Coast Guard personnel intercepted and board two Philippine Navy rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) during the incident, and took seven firearms and other equipment of the Filipino troops. They also destroyed the RHIBs and other equipment.
Malaya said it will be a different story if the Chinese will board the BRP Sierra Madre.
Filipino troops assigned at the shoal at billeted at the rusting Navy ship that was grounded at the shoal in 1999 to serve as military outpost.
Malaya noted that BRP Sierra Madre is a commissioned warship of the Philippine Navy.
“Now, when a foreign country or entities of a foreign country invade or try to take over the BRP Sierra Madre as a commissioned vessel of the Philippine Navy that is a different matter altogether,” said Malaya.
“I think it’s a red line that cannot be crossed,” said Malaya. “There is going to be a different repercussion and troops at BRP Sierra Madre, I am sure, will not allow the attack and boarding (of the vessel) by agents of a foreign power,” added Malaya.
Malaya said the Philippine government will not allow BRP Sierra Madre to be lost, adding that “we are committed to that installation.”
“BRP Sierra Madre is our advance post, it a military detachment in Ayungin Shoal. And the presence of BRP Sierra Madre confirms our occupation of Ayungin Shoal… As mentioned by the President very clearly, we will not any square inch of our territory,” said Malaya.
PROVOCATION
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, asked during the briefing in Malacañang if the Philippines has summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian following the incident, said Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo was scheduled to report to Malacañang on Monday night.
Lazaro said the Philippines’ next actions are still subject to discussions, but one of the “peaceful” steps pursued by the country is diplomatic talks such as the bilateral consultative mechanism (BCM) between the two countries.
The last BMC, however, happened in January and there are no dates yet for the next meeting.
The Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday that the Philippines “should stop its infringement and provocation” and “work with China to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
It also urged Manila to stop “violations” and “misleading the international community.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing has repeatedly made clear its position on the incident, that Philippine vessels intruded into its territorial waters.
“China has stated what actually happened and made clear its position on the illegal intrusion by Philippine vessels into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao. Ren’ai Jiao is part of China’s Nansha Qundao. It is Chinese territory. The Philippines should stop making provocations and infringing on China’s sovereignty,” Mao said in a press briefing in Beijing Monday.
Mao said it would be better for the Philippines to return to the track of 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.
Mao added that Manila should first and foremost observe the treaties that define its territory, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, and abide by the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
“Our message to the Philippines is very clear: Stop infringing on China’s rights and making provocations, and stop misleading the world,” Mao added.
Earlier, the ambassadors of the United States, European Union, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Finland, Sweden, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia called on China to stop its aggressive activities in the South China Sea while expressing concern over the latest incident in Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal.
China’s foreign ministry earlier disputed the Philippine military’s account of the June 17 incident, with a spokesperson saying last Thursday that necessary measures taken by the coast guard were lawful and professional.
The Philippine military has said Chinese Coast Guard personnel carrying knives and spears looted firearms and “deliberately punctured” Philippine boats involved in the mission.
ARMED ATTACK
Año said there is no need to convene the National Security Council “as of the moment,” as the National Maritime Council is the one currently managing the issue.
“However, the President has the discretion to convene the full council or the executive committee anytime,” he said.
Año also said the recent action of the Chinese could not be classified as an armed attack because, following the international definition, an armed attack involves the use of military force or an excessive use of force that could trigger collective self-defense.
He, however, said the Chinese violated a lot of international and domestic laws like use of illegal force, violation of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, and violation of the Declaration of Conduct which requires member states to exercise self-restraint and always opt for the use of peaceful means to settle disputes.
As this developed, Teodoro expressed gratitude to private business groups and the Association of Generals and Flag Officers which expressed their support to the Philippine troops involved in the harassed resupply mission for displaying professionalism and restraint in the face of adversity.
He, likewise, dismissed commentaries of some netizens that the Philippines appears to be selling the Philippines to the United States and putting the country on the brink of war. He said these allegations are part of Chinese propaganda and around 95 percent of Filipinos do not believe it.
PROTECTION FOR FISHERS
The New Masinloc Fishermen Association said their members are no longer going fishing near the Scarborough Shoal, about 124 nautical miles from Zambales.
China gained control of the shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels.
In a radio interview, association president Leonardo Cuaresma said the Chinese Coast Guard has stepped up operations to guard the shoal.
Last month, China announced a new regulation that authorizes the detention of foreigners who will trespass into its waters in the South China Sea. The policy took effect on June 15 although there are no reports of Filipino fishermen getting arrested and detained by the Chinese.
“At present, our fishermen are no longer going to Bajo de Masinloc because the Chinese Coast Guard has intensified efforts to guard Bajo de Masinloc,” Cuaresma said in Filipino.
Cuaresma did not say when they started avoiding the shoal. A few days after the Chinese new policy took effect, the PCG said Filipino fishermen were still able to freely near the shoal.
Cuaresma said Filipino fishermen are now fishing about 100 nautical miles from the shoal or 20 to 30 nautical miles away from mainland Zambales.
Cuaresma said there were even instances when Chinese ships were conducting patrols some 30 nautical miles from the shores of Zambales.
He raised doubt on the capability of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces to protect Filipino fishermen, noting the harassment of the vessels of the two agencies.
“How can they convince us fishermen that we will be given the proper protection when they themselves are getting hurt? … Their vessels were boarded for inspection and their firearms were seized,” said Cuaresma.
“How can they protect us when (they) cannot defend themselves,” he added.
MORALE BOOSTER
Former senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, a colonel in the Army reserve force, recorded a video to boost the morale of troops assigned to Ayungin Shoal.
Pacquiao, wearing an Army uniform, thanked the Filipino troops for protecting the country’s interest in the area.
“Sa inyong lahat, wag po tayong mawalan ng pagasa, ma-discourage (To all of you, let us not lose hope, discouraged),” said Pacquiao, a boxing champion, in the 48-second video released by the defense department.
Pacquiao assured Filipino troops that the government is behind them, ready to assist them anytime.
“Pangalagaan natin at i-mainatin ang seguridad sa ating bansa ng sa gayun ay ang ating kababayan ay mamuhay ng tahimik dito sa sarili natin tahanan. (Let us protect and maintain the security of our nation so that our countrymen can live peacefully in their own homes),” he said. — With Victor Reyes, Ashzel Hachero, and Reuters
