MANILA – The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) slammed the China Coast Guard (CCG) water cannon attack on a Filipino supply vessel near Ayungin Shoal.
According to the NTF-WPS statement, the CCG blocked and attacked the Philippine supply vessel Unaizah May 4 with a water cannon causing damage to the vessel and injury to some personnel.
“The People’s Republic of China’s latest acts of unprovoked aggression, coercion, and dangerous maneuvers against a legitimate and routine Philippine RoRe mission to Ayungin Shoal, have once again placed at risk, caused severe damage to property, and caused physical harm to Filipinos on board UM4,” the NTF-WPS said in a statement.
“The actions of the agents of the PRC in the waters of the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) show to the Filipino people, the region, and the world that the PRC recognizes no reasonable or legal restraint or limitation upon its actions under international law,” it added.
The NTF-WPS also reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award confirming its territory in the region.
“The Philippines shall continue to act peacefully and responsibly, consistent with international law, particularly UNCLOS and the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award. Peace and stability cannot be achieved without due regard for the legitimate, well-established, and legally settled rights of others,” the task force said.
“The Philippines will not be deterred – by veiled threats or hostility – from exercising our legal rights over our maritime zones, including Ayungin Shoal which forms part of our EEZ and continental shelf,” it added.
In response, CCG spokesperson Gan Yu claimed that the Philippines conducted an “irregular resupply mission” as the two Philippine Coast Guard ships and one resupply ship attempted to transport construction materials to BRP Sierra Madre.
“It is a deliberate and provocative move that infringes upon China’s sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests and undermines peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Yu said.
“Despite repeated warnings and routing control by the Chinese side, the Filipino resupply ship tried to intrude into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao forcefully,” he added.
“We warn the Philippines that playing with fire is an invitation [to] disgrace, and the China Coast Guard is ready at all times to defend the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” he further said./PN
