AFP: China spewing ‘false narratives’ that US directs Phl actions on WPS

China must been hurting itself "because of its own doing" which resulted in its spread of "false narratives" against the country, military spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said Thursday, as he stressed that the Philippines cannot be dictated to and influenced by any country. 

In a televised public briefing, the Armed Forces of the Philippines' mouthpiece dismissed China's claims on the supposed influence of the United States on the country's efforts for transparency about Beijing's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.

"Tayo po ay isang malayang bansa at meron tayong foreign policy na independente. So sa akin, parang malaking insulto iyon. Sinasabi nila na dinidiktahan tayo ng ibang bansa sa ating ginagawa (We are a sovereign country and we have an independent foreign policy. So for me, it appears to be a big insult that they're saying that other countries are dictating on the Philippines' actions)," Aguilar said in an interview. 

He added: "Siguro nasasaktan lang sila dahil nalalaman ng maraming tao sa buong mundo kung ano ang mga kamalian na kanilang ginagawa (They might have been hurt because many people around the world are already aware of their wrongdoing)."

Despite China's repeated aggression in the WPS, Aguilar said the Philippines will continue to conduct its rotation and resupply mission as well as other legitimate maritime patrols in the country's exclusive economic zone. 

"We are doing this to protect our fishermen, especially those whose livelihoods are in the West Philippine Sea," he added. 

When asked if the US is welcome to join the AFP's resupply missions, Aguilar said: "Our rotation and resupply mission is for us to undertake."

"It is for our country to make sure that we fulfill our responsibility, being bestowed with the sovereign rights and jurisdiction to ensure that we are able to harvest or to benefit from the resources therein. We have to make sure that environmental protection programs are being implemented," he added. 

"And at the same time, we also have to ensure the safety of those who navigate in the particular area. This is our obligation."

Aguilar reiterated that the AFP will not stop and will not be deterred "by any harassment or a condonation coming from an outside force."

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning previously warned the US should stay away from the affairs of China and the Philippines as it is "not a party to the South China Sea issue."

Mao's statement came after US President Joe Biden reiterated the US commitment to the Philippines' defense remains iron-clad, following the first-ever collision incident between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the WPS.

"The US defense commitment to the Philippines should not undermine China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interest in the South China Sea, nor should it support the illegal claims of the Philippines," she said.

Mao said the US promise of defending the Philippines would "not hurt China's sovereignty and maritime interests in the South China Sea," as she further accused Washington of "enabling and encouraging the illegal claims of the Philippines."

Aguilar lambasted China's allegations that the Philippines is provoking the tensions by "illegally entering and trespassing in the SCS."

"I think, their illegal activities in our maritime zone should be the ones to be stopped. They shouldn't be there, they should not harass our fishermen," he said.