Supply missions to Ayungin will continue — Año
NATIONAL Security Adviser Eduardo Año and the Armed Forces scored China for saying the Philippines must “notify” Beijing in advance before accessing the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
Año, also the chairman of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said Philippines will never seek China’s approval when pursuing activities at the shoal, about 108 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan.
“The recent statement by China’s Foreign Ministry suggesting that the Philippines must first notify China for access to Ayungin Shoal is absurd, nonsense and unacceptable,” said Año in a statement issued on Saturday night.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning earlier said China can allow delivery of living necessities to the grounded Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre, where troops assigned at Ayungin are staying, “if the Philippines notifies the Chinese side in advance.”
Mao’s statement came after the Philippine government denounced China’s blocking of a Navy boat out to evacuate a sick soldier from Ayungin Shoal on May 19.
Yesterday, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said there were actually three soldiers who were subject of the medical evacuation. He said the soldiers were evacuated on the same day, after a delay brought about by China’s interference.
On the same day, China also seized and dumped into the sea one of four packages, containing food supplies and medicines, airdropped by a Philippine Navy aircraft for the troops at Ayungin Shoal.
‘BARBARIC’
Año said China’s aggressive actions against the boat evacuating a sick soldier is “barbaric and inhumane,” adding such acts are “not only violations of international maritime laws but also of basic human rights.”
Año said reports about Chinese forces seizing food and medical supplies for Filipino troops “are equally reprehensible and warrant a thorough investigation and accountability.”
“We emphasize that the Philippines will continue to maintain and supply our outposts in the West Philippine Sea, including the BRP Sierra Madre, without seeking permission from any other nation,” said Año.
“Our operations are conducted within our own territorial waters and EEZ (exclusive economic zone), and we will not be deterred by foreign interference or intimidation,” added Año.
Año said the government is open to “dialogue and peaceful negotiations” to resolve the territorial dispute.
“However, such dialogue must be based on mutual respect and adherence to international law. We call on China to respect the arbitral ruling and to cease any actions that escalate tensions or undermine regional stability,” he said.
NO RIGHT
Trinidad, in a phone interview yesterday, said the military will not comply with China’s demand that the Philippines first seek its permission from China before going to Ayungin Shoal.
“In the first place, they should not be in our EEZ,” he said referring to the country’s 200-nautical mile EEZ provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Second, they have no right to demand, they have no right to set any condition because in the first place they should be out of our EEZ,” he added.
The Philippine Navy is at the forefront of protecting the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea. China has become aggressive in its claims and has harassed Philippine government and civilian vessels in the area in the past months.
“We won’t comply because we don’t even recognize it,” said Trinidad of China’s statement.
“They should not be there and then they will say we should ask their permission (before accessing Ayungin Shoal)? What do you call that,” he asked.
On Saturday afternoon, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Philippines is “under no obligation to seek permission from a country that has illegally and provocatively deployed their forces within our exclusive economic zone.”
“China must remember that Ayungin Shoal is located approximately 105 nautical miles away from the nearest coastline of Palawan. Therefore, China does not have any jurisdiction over these waters. The recent incident involving the obstruction of a medical evacuation highlights the inhumane actions of the Chinese government, as they demonstrate a disregard for safety and the preservation of life,” he said.
Trinidad, in a radio interview yesterday, said the military will continue to ensure that the rusting BRP Sierra Madre is preserved, noting it is a commissioned vessel of the Navy.
“It is the mandate of the Philippine Navy to maintain. We cannot allow it to just disintegrate,” he said.
TAIWAN ISSUE
Trinidad said China wants to control the entire South China Sea in its quest to control Taiwan.
“Actually, what China really wants is to be able to control Taiwan. If they want to take over Taiwan, they need to secure South China Sea, that is why they are developing strength, building structures, features, reclaiming (reefs). In the Navy, we call it sea control, meaning you’re in control, no one can go there without knowing it,” he said.
Trinidad also said Filipinos should also be aware of the China’s other schemes to destroy the Philippines, adding such awareness should not be limited to what is going on the West Philippine Sea.
“What China is doing is penetrate Philippine society and then our political system, our economic system, penetrate us across all instruments of national power, all dimensions, and destroy us from within. We should be vigilant,” he said.
Senate President Francis Escudero expressed belief the long history of cooperation between the Philippines and China will help ease the tension in the West Philippine Sea.
“To me, the misunderstanding between China and the Philippines is just a dot in the long-standing relationship and what lies ahead between the two countries. In other words, we can overcome this,” Escudero said in Filipino in a speech for the celebration of the 23rd Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day and the 49th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries on June 7.
The event was hosted by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Escudero said mutual respect and constant dialogue are the ways to move forward to resolving disputes, adding he believes that the Philippines and China can overcome the current challenges.
Sen. Imee Marcos yesterday urged claimant countries to hold a meeting so they can discuss the approval of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
She said the Code of Conduct has been drafted years back and all it needs is the approval of claimant countries.
Aside from the Philippines and China, also with claims to the South China Sea are Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
“The Code of Conduct is just in front us pending for decades now… The disagreement there is that some want the COC to be detailed, with sanctions for those who will violate it, while others just want to craft the COC as a general rule to be followed,” Marcos told radio dzBB in Filipino.
She also said it is best if the claimant countries conduct joint patrols to avoid escalation of tension. — With Raymond Africa and Wendell Vigilia
