By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Insisting that Ayungin Shoal which they call Ren’ai Jiao and known internationally as Second Thomas Shoal, really belongs to China, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Monday filed a protest over what it claims as the “illegal trespassing of Philippine resupply vessels.”

Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it had summoned officials of the Chinese Embassy to express the Philippines’ “strong protest” over the “aggressive actions” by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and its maritime militia last Saturday against Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy said the resupply vessels intruded into Chinese territory and attempted to bring in construction materials to BRP Sierra Madre, a move which it called “deliberate and provocative” that allegedly “infringed upon China’s sovereignty, maritime rights and interests.”

The Chinese Embassy also claimed that the CCG responded lawfully and professionally, as it remains “committed to resolute measures in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”

It maintained that China’s sovereignty in the area is grounded on history and law, and called the 2016 Arbitral award, “illegal, null and void.”

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Calling the latest harassment incident “unacceptable”, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has demanded that all Chinese vessels leave the Ayungin Shoal which is within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.

On Tuesday (5 March 2024) afternoon, the DFA summoned the Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission as it lodged a diplomatic protest against the aggressive actions carried out by Chinese vessels against Philippine ships during a rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.

“During the meeting, the Philippines stressed, among others, that China’s interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its exclusive economic zone is unacceptable. China’s actions in Ayungin Shoal infringe upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” the DFA said in a statement.

Aware of the increasing international support for the country’s cause, the DFA boldly said: “The Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal immediately.”

The DFA underscored that the Ayungin Shoal is within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, as stated in international law.

“Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. By the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award, it cannot be appropriated for sovereignty claims. International law affirms that the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the feature,” the DFA further stressed.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — China has strongly assailed the Philippines’ plan to build a permanent facility in Ayungin Shoal which it calls Ren’ai Jao, saying such a move “will severely infringe” Beijing’s sovereignty.

“Ren’ai Jiao is an uninhabited shoal. According to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) signed by China and ASEAN countries, parties should keep Ren’ai Jiao uninhabited and facility-free,” spokesperson Mao Ning pointed out.

Heeding the earlier suggestion of leading opposition figure and former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on December 26 revealed plans to construct a permanent structure at Ayungin Shoal will involve an inter-agency program since it will not be a military structure.

This came on the heels of Senator Sonny Angara’s confirmation that lawmakers have allocated funds in the 2024 national budget for the building of a structure at the shoal, which is part of the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.

To recall, Carpio has said that the Philippines should build a civilian structure such as a lighthouse or marine research center on Ayungin Shoal, where BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded.

The BRP Sierra Madre, a Second World War era ship, was deliberately run aground on Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 during the administration of President Joseph “Erap” Estrada to serve as an outpost of the Philippine Marine Corps to assert Philippine sovereignty in the country’s dispute with China over the ownership of the Spratly Islands.

But China protested the Philippines’ plan.

“The spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines blatantly claimed that the Philippines will build a permanent structure. This would be another major move the Philippines could take to go back on its words, change its policy, and undermine the uninhabited and facility-free status of Ren’ai Jiao. This will severely infringe on China’s sovereignty, violate international law and the DOC,” Mao said.

Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that this could provoke China to take more aggressive actions and test the sincerity of the United States to defend the Philippines as its old ally.

(IAmigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Heeding the earlier suggestion of leading opposition figure and former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday revealed plans to construct a permanent structure at Ayungin Shoal will involve an inter-agency program since it will not be a military structure.

This came on the heels of Senator Sonny Angara’s confirmation that lawmakers have allocated funds in the 2024 national budget for the building of a structure at the shoal, which is part of the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.

“Siguro po pagpa-planuhan pa ‘yan — it should be an inter-agency program kasi ang name-mention na structure is some sort of a para siyang shelter para sa mga fisherfolks, and therefore it will involve different agencies,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said.

To recall, Carpio has said that the Philippines should build a civilian structure such as a lighthouse or marine research center on Ayungin Shoal, where BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded.

The BRP Sierra Madre, a Second World War era ship, was deliberately run aground on Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 during the administration of President Joseph “Erap” Estrada to serve as an outpost of the Philippine Marine Corps to assert Philippine sovereignty in the country’s dispute with China over the ownership of the Spratly Islands.

Carpio has reasoned out that a civilian structure could be used to protect the marine environment amid reports of rampant coral harvesting by Chinese vessels and increased aggression by China in the area.

The Philippines has been sending civilian ships to resupply troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre to avoid militarizing the West Philippine Sea issue.

The AFP repudiated China’s claim of “indisputable sovereignty” over the Ayungin Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands that is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan.

China has been claiming sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which overlaps with the waters of Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

(IAmigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — The National Security Council (NSC) on Monday (18 December 2023), brushed off apprehensions that China is in “invasion mode” on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying only one of the Chinese ships remained in the area.

Ray Powell, SeaLight director at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, earlier wrote about a supposed swarming of Chinese vessels inside the Ayungin Shoal within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“On Monday, December 11th, the day after this past weekend’s contentious Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal, an extraordinary 11 Chinese vessels were visible inside the shoal while dozens more clustered around its exterior,” he wrote on the SeaLight’s website.

Powell added: “This highly unusual invasion of the shoal’s interior appears to have been a calculated show of force by Beijing.”

But NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya reputed Powell’s report.

“I got the latest data bago ako lumabas dito sa ating programa na iyong Chinese Maritime Militia ay umalis na po lahat. They already left as of yesterday’s report… Ang naiwan na lang as per our latest monitoring is one Coast Guard vessel, iyong CCG (China Coast Guard) 5204,” Malaya disclosed in a televised briefing.

In a related development, Malaya lauded the joint statement signed by Japanese and Southeast Asian leaders which showed strong support for the Philippines’ position on the WPS.

“Marami sa mga kababayan natin ang nagtataka, bakit iyong mga ibang ASEAN countries ay hindi nagsasalita kapag mayroong mga insidente ng nangyayari sa West Philippine Sea? Kaya ikinatuwa ng National Security Council iyong naging bunga ng pagsusumikap ng ating Pangulong Marcos na mahikayat iyong iba’t ibang bansa na suportahan iyong position ng Pilipinas,” Malaya noted.

(ai/mnm)

MANILA — A maritime security expert has characterized the recent influx of Chinese ships into the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal as an “unprecedented” event.

Ray Powell, director of SeaLight and Project Lead for Project Myoushu at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, revealed that satellite imagery captured an extraordinary 11 Chinese vessels inside the shoal, along with an additional 27 surrounding the area, some of which were engaged in a confrontation with Philippine supply boats.

The intrusion, lasting 24 hours after a Sunday confrontation with Philippine supply boats, is considered highly unusual since Chinese vessels typically return to their base in Panganiban (Mischief) Reef once the Philippine supply mission is completed.

Powell pointed out that none of the ships had their Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned on, underscoring the calculated nature of this show of force by Beijing.

Tensions escalated as 27 Chinese militia ships and the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5402, engaged in multiple confrontations with Philippine vessels, were detected around the shoal.

Powell expressed deep concern over China’s “aggressive behavior” throughout the weekend, citing reckless maneuvers and dangerous encounters involving the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels.

Japan has raised serious concerns about actions escalating regional tensions, echoing a statement emphasizing cooperation with regional groups to protect free, open, and peaceful seas.

The Philippines has consistently adhered to the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal award, which invalidated China’s claim on the South China Sea, while Japan opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.

In response to China’s aggressive actions, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, along with counterparts from Japan and the Philippines, urged China to cease its provocative behavior.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder highlighted the coercive and unlawful actions, expressing US support for the Philippines in defending sovereign rights in accordance with international law.

The defense secretaries of the US and the Philippines agreed to enhance bilateral and multilateral coordination with like-minded partners to bolster interoperability and accelerate the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, reaffirming a shared vision of a free and open region grounded in transparency, the rule of law, respect for sovereignty, and peaceful dispute resolution.

(Amado Inigo/MNM)

MANILA — On early Sunday (10 Dec 2023), a Philippine resupply vessel, Unaiza May 1, collided with a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship, identified as CCG 21556, during a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

The incident, which occurred at 6:39 a.m., was confirmed by United States-based security expert Ray Powell, who monitored the situation using the automatic information system.

Despite the collision, the Philippine government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident.

This collision took place just a day after CCG ships deployed water cannons against three Philippine vessels near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.

The three vessels were en route to provide oil subsidies and groceries to Filipino fishing vessels.

Tensions in the region remain high as maritime incidents between Philippine and Chinese vessels continue to escalate.

(AI/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

TENSIONS FLARED ANEW on Sunday when the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) claimed that Chinese vessels blocked and collided with Philippine boats sending supplies to troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippine Sea.

The NTF-WPS reported that the incident happened at around 6:04 a.m. when the “dangerous blocking maneuvers” of China Coast Guard vessel 5203 (CCGV 5203) caused the collision with the AFP-contracted indigenous resupply boat Unaiza May 2 (UM2) approximately 13.5 nautical miles east northeast of the BRP Sierra Madre.

“The provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action of CCGV 5203 imperiled the safety of the crew of UM2,” the NTF-WPS said in a statement.

The UM2 was conducting a regular and routine rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to BRP Sierra Madre which has been deliberately grounded at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999 during the time of then President Joseph “Erap” Estrada and has since become the symbol of Philippine sovereignty.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said that the United States “condemns PRC’s latest disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, putting the lives of Filipino service members at risk.”

But China’s coast guard countered that it “lawfully” blocked Philippine vessels that were transporting “illegal construction materials” to BRP Sierra Madre at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. (ai/mnm)