Phl slams anew China’s latest aggression in Ayungin Shoal

The National Task Forces on the West Philippines on Friday said the vessels of China Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Militia have "recklessly harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous maneuvers" against the Philippine resupply ships en route to the country's remote outpost, BRP Sierra Madre (LS 57), located at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. 

The government slammed China's latest aggression in an attempt to "illegally impede and obstruct" the country's rotation and reprovisioning (RoRe) mission to the troops stationed in the outpost

"The CCG vessel 5203 deployed a water cannon against Philippine supply vessel M/L Kalayaan in an illegal though unsuccessful attempt to force the latter to alter course," the NTF WPS said in its released statement. 

The Philippine authorities said the supply boats Unaizah Mae 1(UM1) and M/L Kalayaan were also subjected to extremely reckless and dangerous harassment in proximity by CCG rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) inside Ayungin Shoal lagoon as the vessels approaching BRP Sierra Madre.

The Philippine government noted that both of the country's supply boats were able to "successfully reach" the remote outpost in WPS. 

"The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has demarched the Chinese foreign ministry and protested these actions," it further stated.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has also reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and conveyed the Philippine protest "directly through the Maritime Communications Mechanism."

"We firmly insist that Chinese vessels responsible for these illegal activities leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately," the NTF WPS said.

"We condemn, once again, China's latest unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers against a legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, that has put the lives of our people at risk," it continued. 

The Philippine government stressed that China's continuing aggression in Ayungin shoal must be establishing insincerity of their calls for peace dialogue.

"The systematic and consistent manner in which the People's Republic of China carries out these illegal and irresponsible actions puts into question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue," it said.

The Philippines emphasized that it is only acting "responsibly" and consistent with the rules-based international order under the basis of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the 2016 Arbitral ruling backing Manila's sovereign rights over the WPS. 

"Peace and stability cannot be achieved without due regard for the legitimate, well-established, and legally settled rights of others," the Philippines lamented.

Meanwhile, NTF WPS said President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. commended the "courage, commitment, and dedication to duty" of the Philippine Navy personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard "who go on these missions, placing their lives on the line in service of the nation."

The Philippine government reiterated it "will not be deterred from exercising legal rights over our maritime zones, including Ayungin Shoal which forms part of our Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf" of the country. 

"We demand that China demonstrate that it is a responsible and trustworthy member of the international community," it added.