Phl blasts China’s ‘permission’ claims for Ayungin ops: ‘Blatant lies’

The National Security Council (NSC) has again denounced China’s bid to dictate operations in Philippine waters, rejecting Beijing’s narrative that Manila needs “permission” to act in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The Philippine government reiterated that its activities on all occupied features in the WPS do not — and will never — require approval from China.

Through the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea–Area Task Force West (NTF‑WPS ATF West), the NSC stressed that the country sought no consent from Beijing to rotate troops and deliver supplies to BRP Sierra Madre (LS‑57), the outpost anchored at Ayungin Shoal.

“The Philippines firmly asserts that no permission was sought from, nor granted by, China for the conduct of our lawful and regular Rotation and Resupply (RoRe) mission to our troops stationed aboard BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) in Ayungin Shoal on 4 March 2025,” the task force said Tuesday.

It emphasized that Ayungin Shoal lies squarely within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, a position upheld by the 2016 Arbitral Award.

“The Philippines has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the area and has been conducting RoRe missions independently, in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” it added.

The task force accused Beijing of “deliberate disinformation” to bolster its sweeping South China Sea claims, many of which overlap the WPS.

“China's claim that it granted permission for this mission is a blatant disinformation attempt to undermine Philippine sovereignty and mislead the international community,” it said, adding that Manila “does not recognize any authority of China over Ayungin Shoal” and “categorically rejects any implication that our actions require their approval.”