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Philippine Coast Guard crew members aboard the BRP Cabra monitor a Chinese vessel anchored at Sabina Shoal, a West Philippine Sea outcrop located about 135 kilometers west of Palawan. China’s ‘aggressive’ actions in the WPS has earned condemnation from the Philippines and such countries as the United States, Japan and Australia. (Handout/Philippine Coastguard/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)
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The National Task Force-West Philippine Sea on Monday strongly condemned China's claims that a small Filipino vessel intentionally rammed a Chinese Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea, calling it "disinformation and fake news."
In a Palace Briefing on Monday, NTF-WPS spokesperson Jonathan Malaya expressed grave concern over Beijing's alleged "deliberate disinformation campaign," questioning the use of official channels to spread such misinformation.
"It's akin to claiming that the tricycle intentionally rammed a Victory Liner bus on its way to Baguio," Malaya said.
"We express grave concern over the deliberate disinformation campaign being waged Beijing using official channels," Malaya added.
China had also claimed that the United States was fueling the Philippines' "audacity for provocation."
Malaya debunked this allegation, clarifying that the Philippine missions to Bajo de Masinloc and Ayungin Shoal were solely Filipino operations involving only Philippine public vessels and troops. He emphasized that the US had no involvement in these missions.
Malaya urged the Chinese side to be cautious with their pronouncements and refrain from making baseless accusations.
He also reiterated the Philippine government's position that there are no special temporary arrangements with China regarding the RORE missions to Ayungin Shoal.
"The so-called 'promise' to tow away BRP Sierra Madre has been discredited and debunked time and again due to the absence of proof or evidence," Malaya said. "It is time for China to abandon this figment of their imagination."
In the same briefing, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson to West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Philippines will not stoop to the level of the Chinese Coast Guard, who have used water cannons as an offensive weapon.
Tarriela further emphasized that the Coast Guard's primary mission is to promote maritime safety, which is directly contradicted by the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard.
He condemned their behavior as "barbaric". He stated that the Philippine Coast Guard chooses to maintain a "moral high ground" and will not engage in aggression.
"We believe that if we are going to be consistent with that kind of behavior as a coast guard organization, we don't need to go down to the level of the Chinese Coast Guard, using their water cannon as an offensive weapon and damaging the other vessels," he said.
