COLLISION. Two Philippine Coast Guard personnel scramble to place a fender to lessen the impact of collision before BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) and the bigger Chinese Coast Guard vessel 21555 collide on Tuesday (March 5, 2024). The BRP Sindangan suffered minor damage, according to the PCG. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
MANILA – Operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will continue despite increasing harassment from Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and their maritime militia.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (Wescom) chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos said they are "undeterred" and "will not yield".
"Tuloy-tuloy lang po ang ating operasyon sa WPS, tuloy tuloy po ang ating pag-papatrolya at ang ating pag-exercise po ng ating sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction (Our operations in the WPS will continue, along with our patrols and along with the exercise of our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction)," Carlos said in a radio interview over DZBB on Thursday.
The BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57), which is watching over Ayungin Shoal, will remain where it is, he said.
"Gagawin po namin ang lahat upang manatili ang BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal na symbol ng ating sovereign, ng ating, sa soberenya dun sa lugar na 'yun at para makapag-comply po kami sa utos ng Pangulo ay kailangan po namin ang tuloy-tuloy na (rotation and resupply) sa BRP Sierra Madre (We will do everything we can to ensure that BRP Sierra Madre, which is the symbol of our sovereignty, stays there, and to comply with the President's order, we will ensure that the (rotation and resupply) for the BRP Sierra Madre is continuous)," he said.
The statement followed the March 5 incident off Ayungin Shoal where a series of dangerous maneuvers and the use of water cannon of the Chinese Coast Guard led to a minor collision and injuries among the resupply team, including Carlos himself who sustained cuts when the glass windows of Unaiza May 4 were shattered.
Legitimate concern
Meanwhile, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) praised the Philippines for having “consistently complied” with the Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.
“The arbitral award is final and legally binding on the parties to the dispute under the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and Japan strongly hopes that the parties’ compliance with the award will lead to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea,” it said in a statement dated March 6.
Japan, it said, has consistently advocated upholding the rule of law at sea, and would continue to cooperate with the international community such as ASEAN Member States and the United States to protect the free and open international order in the region.
The Japanese MOFA reiterated that the issue concerning the South China Sea is “directly related to the peace and stability of the region” and is a legitimate concern of the international community.
In a separate statement, the embassies of Korea, France and Canada also conveyed their concern over the March 5 Ayungin incident and called for peaceful resolution of disputes. (PNA)
