The municipal council of Kalayaan in Palawan province has declared Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian a persona non grata after the envoy defended the harassment of China Coast Guard and militia ships against local vessels in the West Philippine Sea two weeks ago.
This developed as the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday called on the CCG to not interfere in the next resupply mission to troops stationed at the Ayungin Shoal aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, which is scheduled sometime next week.
Ayungin, as well as Rizal Reef, Balagtas Reef, and six nearby islands, are under Kalayaan town’s jurisdiction.
“(The Chinese) should not interfere in our RoRe (rotation and resupply) mission,” said AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar in a News Forum in Quezon City, which he said would be “soon.” However, the AFP must deliver supplies to its troops in Ayungin this week after the Chinese Coast Guard and militia blockade of its previous RoRe mission – with a marked use of water cannons – saw only one civilian resupply ship reach the Sierra Madre with just two weeks’ worth of supplies.
Resolution No. 125-015 declaring Huang an undesirable person in the Palawan town was authored by Kalayaan Sangguniang Bayan Member Maurice Philip Alexis Albayda, who delivered a privileged speech condemning the Chinese envoy’s statement defending the actions of the CCG. Since Kalayaan is the only town in the West Philippine Sea, the local government has the responsibility to stand up to such actions, Albayda added.
The Standard tried to reach the Chinese Embassy for comment but has yet to receive one as of press time. Sources said Huang was currently in Beijing after CCG vessels used water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels heading for Ayungin on August 5, eliciting local and international criticism.
The Philippines, in response, sent a note verbale to China to protest the incident. Huang was also summoned by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs to explain his country’s actions.
Asked what the military would do should the China Coast Guard not heed their call, AFP’s Aguilar said: “We will see what will happen.”
The spokesman said the AFP only fulfilled half of the resupply mission a fortnight ago.
“Despite the incident on August 5, where Philippine supply vessels were blocked, subjected to dangerous maneuvers and water cannon, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is duty-bound to ensure the well-being of its personnel on the BRP Sierra Madre,” Aguilar said.
“We are, therefore, committed to the conduct of another RoRe mission for our personnel and to maintain our presence in Ayungin Shoal. This exercise of our sovereign rights and jurisdiction is a testament to our firm belief in the rules-based international order that underpins regional peace and stability,” he said.
The AFP spokesman said the military still affirms its support for the peaceful settlement of disputes as “we continue to pursue this humanitarian undertaking and defend our rights over our maritime zones.”
“We, therefore, call on all relevant parties to abide by their obligations under international law and respect the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over its maritime zones,” he said.