Teodoro: China’s Ayungin Shoal actions ‘dangerous, irresponsible’

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. slammed the recent actions of China against the Philippine vessels conducting a rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea as an "irresponsible and egregious violation of maritime safety".

"The Philippine Coast Guard vessels were once again dangerously harassed. This is to me irresponsible behavior on the part of the Chinese Coast Guard and I think that the world knows who is in the right here so it does need much more saying or talking about," Teodoro said in a media interview in Philippine Navy headquarters at Naval Station Jose Andrada, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

"The world has reacted before to the water cannoning," he added,

Though China did not use water canon this time, Teodoro lamented that it did perform "more dangerous maneuvers" against the Philippine vessels.

"I think what has to be underscored here is that wala ngang water cannoning pero mas delikado ang mga maniobrang ginawa nila sa mga kasama nating PCG (I think what has to be underscored here is that while there was no water cannoning, the CCG vessels conducted more dangerous maneuvers against our PCG),"

Despite China's increasing aggressions,  Teodoro said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PCG will continue to hold its RoRe mission to the Ayungin Shoal.

Teodoro sees the need to look closely at the upgrading of the PCG and the Philippine Navy to be able to effectively attend to maritime security threats and protect the welfare of Filipino fisherfolk.

"They need to have capabilities for protecting Filipino vessels, maritime safety and security — what the Chinese Coast Guard doing is an egregious violation of maritime safety," the defense chief said.

Teodoro maintained that the Philippines is strictly following the rules-based international order.

"Tayo dire-deretso lang nag-iiskort ng ating RoRe vessels e sila nanggigitgit ng ganun. So sino ang iresponsable dito? Sa akin obvious na po ang kasagutan (We are only escorting our RoRe vessels while they are harassing us like that. So who is being irresponsible here? For me, the answer is already obvious)," he said.