AFP hits 'deceptive' China claims on ship collision

Beijing's account of the collision of one of its coast guard ships with a Philippine supply vessel near Ayungin Shoal was "deceptive" and "misleading," the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said yesterday.

- PIA LEE-BRAGO and EVELYN MACAIRAN

"The main issue remains to be the illegal presence and actions of Chinese vessels within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which infringes on our sovereignty and sovereign rights," AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.

"The AFP will not discuss operational details on the legal humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, which is well within our EEZ," he added.

He was referring to reports on Chinese media blaming the Philippines for the collision which supposedly happened before 6 a.m. yesterday near Ayungin Shoal.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) claimed the Philippine vessel, enroute to Ayungin Shoal to deliver provisions to troops on the BRP Sierra Madre, "illegally" entered the area.

The incident took place two days after Beijing's supposed enforcement of a "maritime regulation" allowing its coast guard to seize foreign ships "that illegally enter China's territorial waters" and to detain foreign crews for up to 60 days.

The law renewed a reference to a 2021 legislation that says China's coast guard can fire upon foreign ships if necessary. Aside from the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan have said they would not recognize the regulation.

Trinidad maintained it was the CCG’s acts of intimidation that were escalating tensions in the region.

After initially declining to comment on the matter, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said, “We are not in a position to provide any details on this issue. This is not a PCG operation.”

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. vowed yesterday that China’s dangerous and reckless behavior in the West Philippine Sea will be resisted by the AFP.

Teodoro said China’s “behavior contravenes their statements of good faith and decency.”