Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 22) — Chinese ships collided with Filipino vessels on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal on Sunday morning, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said Sunday.
“While conducting a regular and routine Rotation and Resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre, dangerous blocking maneuvers of China Coast Guard vessel 5203 (CCGV 5203) caused it to collide with the Armed Forces of the Philippines-contracted indigenous resupply boat Unaiza May 2 (UM2),” the NTF-WPS said in a statement.
“During the same RORE mission, Philippine Coast Guard vessel MRRV 4409’s port side was bumped by Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003) while it was lying to approximately 6.4NM Northeast of Ayungin Shoal,” it added.
The NTF-WPS called the move “provocative, irresponsible and illegal” as the incident “imperiled the safety of the crew” of the Filipino boats.
It condemned the act “in the strongest degree,” citing the collision as a violation of Philippine sovereignty, rights, and jurisdiction.
The task force also stressed the incident was in “utter blatant disregard” of several international laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award against China.
According to authorities in Palawan, the PCG vessel suffered a “dent” while the AFP-contracted resupply boat had a broken back post due to the collision.
Officials said no one on board the Filipino vessels was hurt and the crew already returned on course to the mainland.
The European Union and Canada also expressed support for the Philippines, denouncing the Chinese ships’ actions to block the Filipino vessels.
Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said the United States condemned the Chinese vessels’ move and expressed support for the Philippines.
“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,” she said in a post.
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. We stand with our #FriendsPartnersAllies in protecting 🇵🇭 sovereignty and in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific.
— Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson (@USAmbPH) October 22, 2023
In a statement, the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) claimed that it “lawfully” blocked the Philippine vessels which it accused of “illegally carrying construction materials.”
“The on-site management was reasonable, lawful and professional,” it said. “The responsibility lay entirely with the Philippine side.”
The CCG said the Philippines planned “to make faults with China and escalate” tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
“The Philippine vessels trespassed into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands without permission. Since the Philippine side ignored China’s repeated warnings, the CCG responded lawfully and blocked the Philippine vessels which were illegally carrying construction materials,” it said.
National Security Adviser Sec. Eduardo Año said the Philippines will remain committed to protecting the national interest despite Bejing’s actions.
The National Security Council earlier said Chinese vessels have been repeatedly harassing and interfering with resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
The AFP said whatever the country does on the BRP Sierra Madre, its military outpost at Ayungin Shoal, is none of China’s business and will not be a threat to any other nation.
“We will not be deterred and we will continue to resupply our troops in BRP Sierra Madre despite provocations,” he said.
In response to China’s claim that its actions were “reasonable, lawful, and professional,” Año said: “The professionalism, restraint, and gallantry of our officers and personnel put them to shame every time we go out there.”
