The Philippine government, through the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), has questioned and expressed doubts on the sincerity of China in its repeated calls for peaceful dialogue on the West Philippine Sea issues following the latest water cannon incident involving the China Coast Guard and Philippine civilian supply vessels on Sunday, Dec. 10.
In a statement, the NTF-WPS condemned what it described as China’s unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers that caused damage to a M/L Kalayaan vessel and endangered its crew.
“The systematic and consistent manner in which the People’s Republic of China carries out these illegal and irresponsible actions puts into serious question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue,” the NTF-WPS said in a statement.
“Peace and stability cannot be achieved without due regard for the legitimate, well-established and legally settled rights of others. We demand that China demonstrate that it is a responsible and trustworthy member of the international community,” it added.
The incident stemmed from another resupply mission of the Philippine government to its troop stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal through civilian vessels M/L Kalayaan and Unnaiza Mae 1.
On their way to the mission, Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese militia vessels subjected Philippine Coast Guard and two civilian resupply vessels to close-range harassments that include the use of water cannons.
As a result of the intense water pressure through the use of a water cannon, the engine of the M/L Kalayaan was damaged and had to be towed back to Palawan, and the mast of the PCG’s BRP Cabra was also affected.
At one point, the NTF-WPS said a Chinese Coast Guard vessel rammed the Unnaiza Mae 1 but despite the incident, it reached the BRP Sierra Madre and went on with its resupply mission.
Second day in a row
On Saturday, Dec. 9, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel also hit vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to water cannon near the Scarborough Shoal, or the Bajo de Masinloc.
The BFAR vessel was then distributing aid to local fishermen as part of the agency’s humanitarian and support mission.
The use of water cannons became the common practice of the China’s Coast Guard in blocking Philippine vessels, an action that repeatedly triggered condemnation from the international community.
‘Our territory’
In a statement, the NTF-WPS reiterated the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the Ayungin Shoal and the Scarborough Shoal.
It said the areas being claimed by China was rejected in the basic concept of the international law on the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOs) and was upheld by a UN Tribunal which invalidated China’s nine-dash line.
In the case of the Ayungin Shoal following another incident of China’s harassment, the NTF-WPS explained that as a low tide elevation, the Shoal “can neither be a subject of sovereignty claim nor is it capable of international appropriation under international law” and as such, China cannot lawfully exercise sovereignty over it.
“In this regard, the assertion of China that its action in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal are a legitimate exercise of law enforcement measures, has no basis in international law,” the NTF-WPS said in a statement.
The NTF-WPS also expressed grave concern over what it described as deliberate disinformation drive conducted through official channels that distorts the facts on the ground.
Not intimidated
In the same statement, the NTF-WPS said the Philippines will continue to act in accordance with the UNLCOs and the 2016 Arbitral Award which invalidated China’s claim over almost the entire South China Sea.
“The Philippines will not be deterred from exercising our legal rights over our maritime zones, including Ayungin Shoal which forms part of our EEZ and continental shelf,” said the NTF-WPS.