NSC exec: China’s provocations increasing West PH Sea tensions

“The provocative actions are on the part of China. It is not the Philippines that is increasing tension, it is China that is increasing tension in the WPS, especially by interfering and blocking our legitimate resupply mission,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in a press briefing. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – China’s provocative actions which resulted in Sunday’s collision incident that damaged a Philippine supply boat and its escort ship is increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), an official of the National Security Council (NSC) said on Monday.

“The provocative actions are on the part of China. It is not the Philippines that is increasing tension, it is China that is increasing tension in the WPS, especially by interfering and blocking our legitimate resupply mission,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in a press briefing.

He noted that the Philippine government considers as “alarming” China Coast Guard (CCG) and their maritime militia’s act of trying to interfere with Philippine supply boat Unaiza May 2 and its Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) escort vessel, the BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409), during its rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in the Ayungin Shoal.

“These collisions were caused by the dangerous and illegal maneuvers at sea by these Chinese vessels who were interfering with a legal and legitimate Philippine operation in support of BRP Sierra Madre. The Chinese vessels did their reckless and illegal acts with full knowledge that their movements (could) cause a collision – and this time, our fears happened,” Malaya said.

He added that these actions were well documented by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PCG through photos and videos.

“We are relieved and thankful that no Filipino personnel were harmed, but we are concerned by the escalation and provocations by Chinese vessels who have no business being in the West Philippine Sea. The CCG’s claim that they were conducting law enforcement activities have no or zero basis whatsoever – Ayungin Shoal is well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Therefore, China has no legal authority or basis to enforce anything in those waters and in the entire WPS,” said Malaya, who is also National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) spokesperson.

The NSC official also dismissed China’s statement that the Philippines need to make a “prior notification” when conducting resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal.

“Again, we ask: Why should we do so? Ayungin Shoal is not Hainan Island. Moreover, their claim that their actions were professional and legitimate collapses in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary,” Malaya said.

National Security Adviser and NTF-WPS chair Eduardo Año also condemned “in the strongest degree” China’s latest actions.

“As we have repeatedly said in the past, continued Chinese blocking and interference by Chinese vessels with our regular and routine rotation and resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre may lead to disastrous results. While no lives were lost in the collisions yesterday (Sunday) China’s provocative and irresponsible actions can clearly (impede) once again the safety of the Filipino crew,” he added.

The first collision took place around 6:04 a.m. Sunday and involved CCG Vessel 5203 (CCGV-5203) and Unaiza May 2.

The second incident happened at 8:14 a.m., when the BRP Cabra was struck by CMM Vessel 00003 that was actively engaged in coordinated maneuvers to harass, impede and obstruct the Philippine vessels.

Commendation

Malaya, meanwhile, commended the bravery and professionalism and dedication to duty of Philippine Navy and PCG personnel for doing their duty despite the odds.

“We commend the bravery, professionalism and dedication to duty of our Philippine Navy and PCG personnel, who, by their actions represent the best of the country’s uniformed services. They do their duty in the face of overwhelming odds,” he added.

With Unaiza May 1, the only Filipino supply boat able to deliver its cargo to the troops aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, the NSC official said they consider this RORE mission a “partial success”.

“We consider this RORE mission as a partial success because one of our supply boats – Unaiza May 1 – succeeded in reaching BRP Sierra Madre and unloading supplies. However, Unaiza May 2 sustained damage as a result of the collision and could not complete its mission,” he added.

Undeterred

Despite the latest incident, Malaya said the Philippines will never be deterred by these “provocative actions of China”.

“We will continue to repair, maintain and sustain our troops in BRP Sierra Madre while (the) said ship is on duty in defense of our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the WPS,” he added.

He also called on China to stop its provocative actions, act responsibly in accordance with international law and the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea, respect the 2016 Arbitral Award and defend the rules-based international order.

No MDT trigger

Malaya said the Philippines is not using Chinese harassments in the WPS to trigger the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States.

“Of course not, what we are doing here is a legitimate Philippine operation, we are resupplying our troops in Ayungin Shoal, we are not undertaking any dangerous maneuvers of our own. As we have seen in the videos and photos, (what we are doing) is routinary in this purpose,” he added.

Meanwhile, PCG spokesperson for the WPS, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said they are still determining the extent of damage caused by the incident to BRP Cabra.

“I cannot answer that for now because as I said we have yet to evaluate the damage that BRP Cabra incurred because of the collision,” he added.