What the Philippines does in its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea is not subject to the approval of any country, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) declared Wednesday.
“The rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre are legitimate and routine activities in our EEZ,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said after China’s Ambassador Huang Xilian objected to the delivery of building materials to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
“The Philippines’ exercise of its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction within our maritime zones is not subject to any other country’s approval. This is the norm,” Daza said.
Philippine boats accompanied by Philippine Coast Guard vessels succeeded in completing their follow-up mission to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre on Tuesday despite attempts by Chinese vessels to block and harass them.
Huang, on the other hand, said the deliveries were allowed to go through as “humanitarian supplies” under a special arrangement until the Philippines began sending “large-scale” building materials.
A new resupply mission was needed on Tuesday because Chinese ships thwarted an earlier attempt on Aug. 5 by firing water cannons at the Filipino boats and maneuvered to block them.
Despite the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated its vast claims to the South China Sea, China refuses to recognize the Philippines’ claim on Ayungin Shoal and has illegally occupied Mischief Reef since 1995.
Philippine Coast Guard vessels accompanying the resupply mission Tuesday said they received radio challenges from China.
In videos provided by the PCG Tuesday, a Chinese Coast Guard ship could be heard telling the Philippine vessels operating in the area that Beijing had “indisputable sovereignty… since ancient times’ over the Spratly Islands.
“In the spirit of humanism, we only permit your ship carrying food and other necessary living materials and rotating personnel, without construction materials, for the illegally grounded vessel,” it added, referring to the BRP Sierra Madre.
The PCG responded: “In accordance with international and Philippine laws, you are within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.”
“Your actions will affect Philippines-China relations and will be reported to concerned authorities,” the PCG continued.
Beijing claims almost the entire waterway using its discredited 9-dash line and has ignored an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
The Philippines doesn’t need permission from anybody to resupply its garrison on the BRP Sierra Madre, said PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela.
Resupply missions have to pass through several layers of Chinese vessels, he noted.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea also denied on Wednesday claims made by the Chinese Coast Guard that it only allowed a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on humanitarian grounds.
“That is not true that they just allowed the supply boats to enter Ayungin Shoal…They are lying when they said they are extending humanitarian consideration,” Tarriela said in an ANC Dateline Philippines interview.
Tarriela also said that the four Chinese Coast Guard vessels, including one that came from Sabina Shoal, and four Chinese militia boats tried to block Philippine Coast Guard and supply boats from entering Ayungin Shoal.
“They made sure we would have a hard time. Coast Guard skippers and supply boats were able to outmaneuver those Chinese vessels that were blocking the entrance of Ayungin Shoal,” he said.
The NTF-WPS earlier said that CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels attempted to “block, harass and interfere” with the Philippines’ resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal.
The BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era ship, was purposely grounded in 1999 at Ayungin Shoal to serve as the country’s outpost in the West Philippine Sea.
The shoal is located in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
The PCG said it deployed two 44-meter multi-role response vessels to support the resupply mission.
The PCG vessels – BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan–escorted the civilian boats contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to transport provisions to the troops aboard the BRP Sierra Madre.
Coast Guard Admiral Artemio Abu, the PCG commandant, said the collaborative efforts and unity of purpose with the AFP strongly demonstrate the government’s determination to assert the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.
The AFP on Tuesday said Filipinos have a reason to celebrate the success of its resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.
In a statement, AFP Spokesman Army Colonel Medel Aguilar also lauded the two supply ships and the Philippine Coast Guard for delivering the goods to Filipino Marines stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre.
“The Filipinos have a reason to celebrate today. Our rotation and reprovisioning mission was successfully conducted and the resupply boats and the PCG vessels escorting them are on their way back to their station in Palawan. Let us all pray for their safe voyage back,” the AFP said.