China justified anew the blocking of Philippine boat that was about to evacuate a Filipino military personnel in need of medical assistance from the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippine Sea.

Disregarding the Philippines’ jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea, Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said that the Philippines must inform China first of its actions in the waters.

“If the Philippines notifies the Chinese side in advance, we can allow delivery of living necessities to the grounded warship or evacuation of personnel concerned,” she said.

Maintaining China’s unilateral claim over the waters, she then reminded that Philippines must “not use this as an excuse for delivering construction materials in an attempt to permanently occupy” the Ayungin Shoal, where the Philippine ship is grounded.

“China’s position on the issue of Ren’ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal) is clear,” she said.

On Friday, June 7, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) hit China’s attempt to block a medical evacuation of an ill military personnel on May 19, the same day it seized food package for the Filipino troops in the waters.

PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela called China Coast Guard’s action as “barbaric and inhumane,” adding it “has no place in our society.”

According to Tarriela, the PCG deployed a high speed response boat (HSRB) upon the request of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to help evacuate a sick trooper onboard the BRP Sierra Madre.

The PCG boat was supposed to rendezvous with the Philippine Navy’s (PN) rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) carrying the sick soldier.

However, during an attempt to bring the HSRB alongside the PN RHIB at the rendezvous point, the Filipino soldiers and coast guardians were allegedly blocked by CCG ships with bow number 21551 and 21555, two small boats, and two rubber boats.

“Despite informing the Chinese Coast Guard via radio and public address system about the humanitarian nature of our mission for medical evacuation, they still engaged in dangerous maneuvers and even intentionally rammed the PN RHIB while transporting the sick personnel,” Tarriela said.