PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday said the Philippines would have to do more than just the usual filing of diplomatic protests against China over its aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, the latest of which injured several Filipino troops.
However, he did not say what else his administration thinks needs to be done.
“We have over a hundred protests already. We have already made a similar number of démarches. So, we have to do more than just that,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the at the National Employment Summit in Manila.
The Philippines has filed a note verbale over the June 17 incident at Ayungin Shoal, and accused China of using “aggressive and illegal force” to disrupt a resupply mission to troops staying at the BRP Sierra Madre grounded at the shoal. Chinese Coast Guard personnel were carrying knives and spears, looted firearms, and “deliberately punctured” Philippine boats involved in the mission, the military has said.
China’s foreign ministry has disputed the Philippines’ account, with a spokesperson saying necessary measures taken by the coast guard were lawful and professional.
Marcos said the Philippines has made very clear to the Chinese government its objections to its aggressive actions.
Asked if he has talked with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, the President said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will formalize a discussion with the Chinese envoy.
Marcos said the Philippines is also constantly in touch with the Huang.
ILLEGAL ACTION
The President, echoing some officials, also said the incident cannot be considered an armed attack as no guns were used.
Marcos said it was an “illegal action” carried out by the Chinese forces.
He also said it was not a misunderstanding but a deliberate action to block and prevent the Philippine vessel from completing its mission.
He said when Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said last week that the June 17 incident was a “misunderstanding” and an |accident,” the government was still checking data on the ground and the report about the incident became clearer after he visited the military’s Western Command in Palawan last Sunday and talked with the officers involved in the resupply mission.
“Although there were no arms involved, nonetheless it is still a deliberate action and it is essentially an illegal action that was taken by the Chinese forces,” he said.
COMMITMENT
The United States, which has condemned China’s actions, reaffirmed its ironclad commitment to the Philippines in a telephone call between Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin on Wednesday.
“The two officials discussed the importance of preserving the rights of all nations to fly, sail, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international law allows,” the Pentagon said in a summary.
“Secretary Austin reaffirmed the ironclad US commitment to the Philippines following dangerous actions on June 17 by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against lawful operations by the Philippines to deliver humanitarian supplies to service members stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre,” said US defense department spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
Ryder said Austin “underscored continued US support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights.”
The US and the Philippines forged the Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951. The agreement mandates the two countries to come to each other’s defense in case of an armed attack.
Ryder said Austin and Teodoro also “discussed the importance of preserving the rights of all nations to fly, sail, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international law allows.”
DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said Austin and Teodoro denounced China’s harassment of the June 17 resupply mission during their phone conversation.
Andolong also said Teodoro and Austin renewed their commitment to “modernize” the Philippines-US alliance with the two officials looking forward to the completion of frameworks to “shared defense modernization investments and strengthen information-sharing.”
Wu Qian, a spokesperson of the Chinese defense ministry, told a press briefing, “It needs to be emphasized that the Ren’ai Reef issue is not the United States’ business.”
“It is extremely dangerous and irresponsible for the United States to instigate and support the Philippines’ infringement and provocation,” Wu added, dismissing the treaty as a useless threat.
Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said the Philippines had sought a meeting with Chinese officials to lower tension, not resolve territorial claims, and hoped it could happen early next month.
Romualdez said that if the Philippines could not resupply its troops, that would amount to “killing” its soldiers through starvation and thirst.
“I don’t think China wants to have a major conflict,” he said. “And definitely we do not want to have one. And so, that’s a good starting point.”
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
An international tribunal dismissed China’s expansive claims in 2016, a ruling that Beijing rejects.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said China’s “monster” ship is now back in Hainan, China after an “intrusive patrol” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and going near mainland Palawan,
PCG spokesman for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the PCG monitored the movement of Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, the world’s largest coast guard vessel, for the past 10 days, using Canada’s dark vessel detection technology.
“As of this (Thursday) morning at 8 a.m., the most recent data shows that CCG 5901 is last monitored at a distance of 46 nautical miles southeast of Sanya, Hainan,” said Tarriela.
Tarriela said the Chinese vessel departed Hainan last June 17 and “directly encroached upon the territorial waters of the Philippine-occupied features of Parola and Pagasa (islands), violating our sovereignty.”
“It then proceeded to enter (Chinese-occupied) Zamora Reef, where it stayed overnight, before eventually continuing its voyage by passing through Bayani and Union Banks,” he also said.
Tarriela said the vessel was later monitored at the Chinese-occupied Kagitingan Reef “and possibly resupplied for logistics before continuing o her long voyage, entering the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Malaysia and Brunie.”
“She once again headed north and entered the Philippine EEZ once more. She passed through Rizal Reef and made a supply stop at (Chinese-occupied) Panganiban Reef on June 23rd,” added Tarriela.
The following day, the vessel continued navigating the EEZ of the Philippines, passing through Lawak and Patag islands “and then making a quick southeasterly turn to pass through Escoda Shoal.”
“After passing through Escoda Shoal, CCG 5901 proceeded directly towards El Nido, Palawan, maintaining a close distance of 34 nautical miles from its coastline,” he said.
Tarriela said the vessel then made a quick turn towards Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc (BDM). China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels.
He said the vessel joined three other China Coast Guard vessels deployed at the shoal.
“After spending a few hours loitering at BDM, CCG 5901 sailed back towards Hainan,” Tarriela said. — With Victor Reyes and Reuters
