Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 24) — The Philippines will implement firmer actions against China after its ships collided with Manila’s vessels which were on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the National Security Council (NSC) said Tuesday.
“The security cluster, including the president (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.), is taking this event that happened last Sunday…very seriously, and in fact they are considering taking more resolute steps to respond to this increased provocation and increased aggression coming from the People’s Republic of China,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
Malaya said another cluster meeting will be held after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) completes its investigation into the incident to discuss future steps.
According to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), the China Coast Guard vessel 5203 (CCGV 5203) conducted dangerous blocking maneuvers while Philippine authorities were on a regular and routine rotation and resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal. The CCG vessel’s maneuvers caused it to collide with the Armed Forces of the Philippines-contracted indigenous resupply boat Unaiza May 2 (UM2).
The PCG vessel MRRV 4409’s port side was also bumped by Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003) while it was lying approximately 6.4 nautical miles Northeast of Ayungin Shoal.
In response, the CCG claimed that its blocking was “reasonable, lawful and professional.” It also said Manila planned \”to make faults with China and escalate\” tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
Malaya said China’s actions, specifically its maritime militia engaging in blocking Philippine troops, have been observed in the last two to three missions. It proves that these Chinese ships are not fishing vessels and these “are part of the entire structure of command of the Chinese Coast Guard which is under the Chinese military commission,” he added.
Media presence helps ‘destroy China’s false narrative’
The Philippines has been including members of the media in most of their resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal.
Malaya said this “destroys the false narrative coming from the Chinese embassy.”
“The media themselves saw it and they can report it as first hand witnesses,” he added. “Kaya sila (China) nagagalit sa presence ng mga media (The reason why they are getting mad on the presence of the media)…because they are losing the information war.”
