China has clearly disregarded the international conventions on the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea following its Coast Guard's latest aggressive actions against Philippine resupply boats at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, according to the Association of General and Flag Officers or AGFO.

The AGFO strongly denounced the "dangerous maneuvers" of the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels against the Armed Forces of the Philippines-contracted resupply boat and Philippine Coast Guard escort vessel during a re-provisioning mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, which is grounded at Ayungin Shoal.

"The latest harassment clearly reflects China's disregard of international conventions on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS 1974) and International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS 1972)," the AGFO statement read.

The AFGO believes China's intrusion into the Philippines' exclusive economic zone "aims to subvert the sovereign rights of the Filipino people, by its unrestricted fishing, willful destruction of corals, and continued illegal presence."

As a signatory to the 1982 UNCLOS and a "party" to the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, the AGFO noted that China is "fully aware of the maritime rights of coastal states" that include exploration and exploitation of marine and seabed resources and the preservation of the marine environment but insists on propagating unbelievable narratives.

"From its actions and narratives, China has maintained its strategy in the South China Sea — ignoring the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, employing its seagoing forces, reinforcing its artificially-built island bases, and wearing off other claimants — to exercise undisputed control over the waterway," AGFO stressed.

"This strategy clearly reflects China's hegemonic behavior that intimidates weak nations, threatens the freedom of navigation therein, and deprives the other claimants of their patrimony," it added.

AGFO expressed its support to the Philippine government in considering crafting and implementing all necessary initiatives to preserve the country's maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea.