Philippines won’t seek China approval to access Ayungin – Año

MANILA, Philippines — There is no need for the Philippines to get China’s approval to conduct any activity in Ayungin Shoal, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said over the weekend.

The official’s statement came after China announced it would no longer block deliveries of food and other provisions to the BRP Sierra Madre if Manila gives advance notice.

“The recent statement by China’s Foreign Ministry suggesting that the Philippines must first notify China for access to Ayungin Shoal is absurd, nonsense and unacceptable. We do not and will never need China’s approval for any of our activities therein,” Año said in a statement on Saturday night.

The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to uphold its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal, which is well within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as recognized by the international law and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

Members of the Chinese Coast Guard on rubber boats recently snatched one of four food packages and provisions airdropped by Philippine military aircraft for the Sierra Madre.

Meanwhile, a Navy official said the Philippines has a mandate and right to maintain the Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

“This is a commissioned vessel of the Philippine Navy. That is the mandate of the Philippine Navy, to maintain and not neglect it,” Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Roy Trinidad said in an interview with radio dzBB.

China set conditions – in exchange for continuing a dialogue with the Philippines – to ease tensions in the WPS, demanding that Manila tow away the rusty outpost as soon as possible.

The Department of Foreign Affairs stands firm that the Philippines has not entered into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its EEZ and continental shelf, including that on the Ayungin Shoal.

‘Destroy from within’

In the same interview, Trinidad called on the public yesterday to be vigilant of China’s “penetration” into Philippine society, political and economic system to “destroy (the country) from within.”

Trinidad warned of China’s presence within the country across all instruments of power, saying it is no longer mere coincidence.

“What’s important to understand and be aware of is for our countrymen to be conscious of what’s happening all over the country. Although, I’m not saying this (China’s presence) is a threat to our nation, but it’s too good to be coincidental,” Trinidad said.

“They (China) have a presence not only militarily, but economically, politically, educationally. Across all the instruments of national power China is doing something and this is happening all over the country. So if we are to connect the dots…”

Trinidad likened China’s approach – in allegedly penetrating the government – to an insurgency.

“In an insurgency, one of the approaches is to penetrate government and destroy it from within. What China is doing to us is to penetrate Philippine society and our political system, and our economic system; penetrate us across all instruments of national power, all dimensions and destroy us from within. We must all remain vigilant in this regard,” he stressed.

With the military focus on the WPS, Trinidad urged Filipinos – especially in areas where the presence of security forces is limited – to be vigilant, mindful of their surroundings and report to authorities any suspicious movements and activities involving Chinese nationals. He referenced crimes committed in Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), arrests of Chinese nationals in possession of high powered firearms and hacking devices and equipment, saying these were indicators.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the arrest in Makati last month of Yuhang Liu, who was detained by law enforcement for possessing unauthorized firearms and equipment potentially linked to communications hacking.

“As I’ve said, we’re not sure if this was a security threat, but this is a reason. There are indicators here for us to check,” Trinidad said. “For example, crimes are being committed by POGOs. Why were there high-powered firearms seized in Valle Verde (Pasig)? There are violations of the Customs Law. At the LTO (Land Transportation Office) why are there high-end sports cars that you would think are from legitimate businesspeople?”

The AFP was investigating the alarming increase in the number of Chinese students in Cagayan province, and recently, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said strong evidence to support Mayor Alice Guo’s alleged ties with a Chinese criminal syndicate that operated the raided POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac was divulged during the executive session in the Senate on Wednesday.

United States, Philippine soldiers establish Joint Operations Center

Soldiers from the United States and the Philippine Army established a Joint Operations Center (JOC) as part of Exercise Salaknib 2024.

The establishment of a JOC is seen as a pivotal moment in fostering collaboration among multinationals during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable (JPMRC-X) exercise potion of Salaknib in Fort Magsaysay, which ran from June 1 to 10.

“The Joint Operations Center is really the base level of how we control the exercise,” said US Army Capt. Miguel Menjivar, JPMRC-X lead planner of the 196th Infantry Brigade. “Everything happening in the training area is monitored within the JOC.”

The JOC will facilitate real-time information sharing, joint planning, and execution of military operations among participating nations during the JPMRC-X. Its strategic location in the Philippines underscores the significance of regional partnerships in maintaining a secure and stable region.

“Here in the Philippines, we did something kinda cool,” Menijivar said. “We have all of our Philippine partners alongside us to work on interoperability. It allows us to hone in on what we can provide and do with our allied partners.”

JPMRC marks a milestone for the Philippine Army, offering hands-on experience within a Joint Operations Center to manage and oversee a major bilateral exercise, a first in Salaknib’s history.