China using false narrative — AFP

(File Photo from PNA)
The China Coast Guard is using a false narrative in its recent dangerous maneuvers in trying to block a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on 7 September, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Saturday.
At the weekly Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said the Philippine Navy offered to help a Chinese rubber boat in distress in Ayungin Shoal only to be scorned and blamed for the incident.
"Troops offered assistance to help China, but China refused.. and another boat came to their rescue," Aguilar said.
He narrated that one of China's Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats was entangled in a fishing line while it was tailing Philippine vessels heading to Ayungin Shoal to resupply troops there.
Aguilar said while the Chinese boat's refusal to accept aid from Philippine forces was expected, what surprised the troops was Beijing's radio call that blamed Filipinos for the incident.
"They still have the guts to challenge our radio message: 'Philippine Coast Guard because of your maneuvers, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel came into problem,'" he said.
Aguilar called these as "another narrative that they will tell their people."
"After this incident, they will come up with their own narrative to tell their people about what happened," Aguilar said.
"We don't want the truth to be drowned by what happened," he said.
Aguilar also described the CCG's behavior as "misplaced bullying" amid its continued aggression in the country's territorial waters.
"The CCG is a misplaced bully at the WPS," Aguilar said.
This is the third resupply mission after the 5 August incident when the CCG used water cannons against the PCG fleet conducting a similar mission. Another resupply mission was conducted and completed on 22 August.
Despite the efforts of the Chinese vessels, the AFP said the resupply mission was successful.
