By Junex Doronio
APPARENTLY EMBOLDENED by the successful resupply mission of Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday openly disputed China’s “indisputable sovereignty” claim over the Spratly Islands.
“The use of the word ‘indisputable’ is disputable,” AFP spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar said in a statement.
Earlier, Beijing condemned a mission by four Philippine ships to resupply Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal which is called Ren’ai Reef by China.
“China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including the Ren’ai Reef, and its adjacent waters, and firmly opposes the illegal delivery of construction materials by the Philippines to the illegally grounded warship,” China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu declared.
China has been claiming the entire South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea (WPS), citing its so-called 9-dash line.
But in 2016, an arbitral tribunal said the 9-dash line was invalid, adding that Ayungin Shoal was part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“For one, the UNCLOS says no to its claim. Second, the arbitral award invalidated it. Third is several countries have expressed their support to the Philippines and to the rules-based international order, while no one has openly supported China in its actions at the WPS,” Aguilar pointed out.
China has refused to recognize the ruling and even now asserting its so-called 10-dash line. On the other hand, the United States being an ally of the Philippines has reaffirmed its commitment to defend the country in case of an armed attack by China, citing the Mutual Defense Treaty. (ai/mnm)
