Generals, flag officers: China harassment disregards sea rules

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

AGFO strongly denounced the "dangerous maneuvers" of the Chinese Coast Guard and the Chinese maritime militia boats that collided with the Armed Forces of the Philippines-contracted resupply boat and Philippine Coast Guard escort vessel during the country's re-provisioning mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, grounded in the Ayungin Shoal.

"The latest harassments clearly reflect 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.

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

As a signatory of the 1982 UNCLOS and a "party" to the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, China is "fully aware of maritime rights of coastal states" — that includes exploration and exploitation of marine and seabed resources and the preservation of the marine environment. But it continues to propagate contrary narratives, said the group.

"From its actions and narratives, China has maintained its strategy in South China — 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 underscored.

"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 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.