Smooth sailing on latest Ayungin resupply mission

MANILA, Philippines — A supply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal over the weekend went smoothly, with Chinese vessels maintaining their distance and showing no sign of hostility, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

“The Chinese vessels maintained their distance and did not disrupt the resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal,” PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said.

Video recording of the supply mission showed four China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, three People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and two militia vessels in stationary position as the supply mission was ongoing.

CCG’s and the world’s biggest coast guard ship with bow number 5901 was reportedly in the vicinity of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, where it dropped anchor some two weeks ago. Watching its movement is PCG’s  97-meter patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua.

Tarriela said videos “clearly show that there was no boarding or inspection by the Chinese Coast Guard, contradicting the claims made by the Chinese foreign ministry.”

China earlier warned it would stop any supply mission done without its prior knowledge.

“These videos further reinforce the statements made by both the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and NTF-WPS (National Task Force – West Philippine Sea) that the Philippines did not and will not seek permission from the PRC (People’s Republic of China) for such missions,” the PCG official said.

“We have all the legitimate rights to carry out the resupply,” he added. “They do not have any opportunity to board and inspect. We’re not going to allow them to do those kinds of activities,” he added.

Asked on One News’ “Storycon” why China appeared to have backed off from its aggressive actions toward resupply missions, Tarriela noted the wide support the Philippines has received from different countries.

Both China and Philippines, he told Storycon, may have come to a realization that an orderly and peaceful conduct of resupply missions is the best way forward.

The two countries recently came up with a “provisional understanding” regarding the resupply missions.

Specific details of the agreement have yet to be released, although China claimed that the Philippines agreed to give prior notice and allow prior inspection of the cargo. This was repeatedly denied by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“We never gave anything to China,” Tarriela said. “As far as the DFA is concerned, for the provisional understanding that they came out, it has no clause that can undermine or be prejudicial to our own national interest.”

No untoward incident

Earlier, the DFA reported there were “no untoward incidents” during the supply mission to Sierra Madre on July 27 – the first “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 slammed China for “mischaracterizing” the supply mission by claiming it was notified by the Philippines, which agreed to onsite inspection by the Chinese.