China interferes anew in WPS resupply mission, accuses Phl of ‘intruding’

The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea reported the country's successful rotation and resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal last 4 October.

But the task force said the fresh provisions to military personnel stationed in the Philippine Navy's grounded ship in the Ayugin Shoal, delivered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western  Command and the Philippine Coast Guard, were again blocked by the China Coast Guard and  Chinese maritime militia vessels while traversing the Philippine waters off WPS.

The Chinese ships harassed and interfered with the routine mission of the Philippine supply ships Unaizah May 1 and Unaizah May  2, escorted by PCG vessels BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) and BRP Sindangan (MRRV 4407), while they were en route to BRP Sierra Madre, a warship-turned-military outpost of Filipinos in WPS.

China has condemned the Philippines' resupply mission, accusing Filipinos of "intruding [into] Chinese territory."

In a China Military website post, China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said the China forces issued warnings and conducted necessary control of four Filipino vessels that "illegally entered waters near the Ren'ai Reef" — the Chinese name for Ayungin Shoal, on Wednesday.

"Philippine supply ships and two coast guard ships entered the waters in China's Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government," Gan said.

The Chinese official said the CCG closely monitored the movement of the Filipino ships and "effectively regulated them in accordance with the law."

Gan noted that China's intention of blocking was to "prevent" the Philippines from "shipping illegal construction materials" to the BRP Sierra Madre "that is illegally stranded in the Ren'ai Reef."

He then urged the Philippines "to immediately stop its infringing activities in the waters, stressing that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters, including the Ren'ai Reef."

"China Coast Guard will continuously carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in the waters under China's jurisdiction in accordance with law," he added.

However, the NTF-WPS maintained that the resupply missions are part of the country's regular operations "in line with domestic and international law and to ensure the safety and well-being of our stationed personnel."

"These missions are a  legitimate exercise of the administrative functions of the Philippine Government over the WPS, in line with the UNCLOS, the 2016 Arbitral Award, and domestic laws," it said.

"The administration of  President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will remain steadfast in adhering to a rules-based international order," the task force added.