PH resumes Ayungin resupply trips after deal with China
But one thing that I can say, there is no prejudice or compromise in our sovereignty and our sovereign rights claims. Our national interests are never compromised. And we did not agree on anything that would undermine our position in the West Philippine Sea A civilian vessel successfully delivered food, water and other necessities to Filipino troops at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on Saturday without incident for the first time since China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel violently blocked a similar resupply mission in June, according to Philippine and Chinese government reports.The unimpeded delivery of essential supplies followed what the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) called an “understanding” early this month between Philippine and Chinese officials in a meeting in Manila to prevent a repeat of the June 17 attack by the CCG in which a Philippine Navy sailor lost a finger.
The two sides, however, gave different accounts of how the resupply was conducted, with the CCG saying that it had “supervised” the entire operation.“It was the first Rore (rotation and reprovisioning) mission conducted under the ambit of the understanding reached between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China on principles and approaches for the conduct of Rore missions in Ayungin Shoal for the purpose of avoiding misunderstandings and miscalculations, without prejudice to national positions,” the DFA said in a statement.It said that there were “no untoward incidents” during the Rore.
China claims sovereignty over Ayungin, which is within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ), where the BRP Sierra Madre had been grounded since 1999 to serve as one of the Philippine military outposts in the West Philippine Sea.
China’s version
Chinese forces, including their maritime militias, have repeatedly tried to block supply boats heading to the Sierra Madre. Chinese state broadcaster CGTN on Saturday quoted CCG spokesperson Gan Yu that it “supervised the entire process” of bringing supplies to troops on the rusted World War II-era ship.
China early this week claimed that the Philippines agreed to give Beijing prior notification and allow on-site inspection for any Rore mission. The DFA immediately disputed this, saying it was “inaccurate.” It said on Saturday that none of these were done.But the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Saturday said that the Rore terms were executed during the latest mission.
“The entire process was monitored by China Coast Guard. China had been notified of the resupply before it was carried out. After confirming on-site that the Philippine vessel carried only humanitarian living necessities, the Chinese side let the vessel through,” the embassy said.
The civilian vessel MV Lapu-Lapu was used to carry the supplies, escorted by the PCG ship BRP Cape Engaño. According to the DFA, the mission started Saturday morning and was completed by 1 p.m.
“The lawful and routine Rore mission within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a credit to the professionalism of the men and women of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard, and the close coordination among the National Security Council, Department of National Defense and the Department of Foreign Affairs,” the DFA said.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said on July 24 that the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea were never compromised in the deal with Beijing.
He explained during a post-State of the Nation Address forum that it was not an agreement but an understanding.
It was “an exchange of notes where there are common accepted parameters for both sides and both sides agreed that the tensions will be reduced in Ayungin Shoal to prevent skirmishes, to prevent anything that may lead to injury or harm to our soldiers or to anyone,” he added. Año denied China’s claims that the Philippines agreed to prior notification and on-site confirmation for their agreed “temporary arrangement” on Ayungin resupply missions.
“Well, I am telling you that that is not accurate, that is really false because there is no such kind of on-site inspection,” he said.
Terms for disclosure
But Año said disclosing the content of the common understanding “has to be agreed upon by both sides from the government and from the PRC (People’s Republic of China).”
“But one thing that I can say, there is no prejudice or compromise in our sovereignty and our sovereign rights claims,” he said. “Our national interests are never compromised. And we did not agree on anything that would undermine our position in the West Philippine Sea.”
Ayungin, about 200 kilometers west of Palawan and 1,290 km from Hainan, the closest Chinese land territory to the shoal, is one of the most hotly contested maritime features in the West Philippine Sea between the two countries.
China’s coast guard, backed by its maritime militia, have used blocking maneuvers and water cannons against Filipino supply boats and PCG vessels over the years.Knives, spears, bolos
In the June 17 assault, CCG personnel armed with knives, spears, bolos and an ax rammed and boarded two Navy rubber boats, deflating one and destroying their navigation and communication equipment. The ramming severed the right thumb of one of the sailors.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea in conflict with the maritime claims not only of the Philippines but also of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Taiwan.
The 2016 arbitral award upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its EEZ and invalidated China’s expansive claim. Beijing continues to reject the arbitral ruling. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH INQ
