The Armed Forces of the Philippines has rightly rejected the ridiculous claim of the Chinese coast guard that the Philippines was allowed to air drop supplies for its troops on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal through “temporary special arrangements.”
Chinese vessels, including those of its coast guard and maritime militia, have been disrupting Philippine ships conducting resupply missions to Ayungin.
According to the China Coast official WeChat account, “On Jan. 21, a small aircraft from the Philippines air dropped supplies to the illegally beached warship.” “The Chinese coast guard has followed up and monitored the situation in real time, controlled and dealt with it in accordance with laws and regulations, and made temporary special arrangements for the Philippines to replenish necessary daily supplies,” it added.
Furthermore, the interloper even had the gall to accuse Manila of disregarding their made up facts and misleading the international community, which it said was not conducive to easing tensions in the South China Sea.
In a press briefing, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla said the military does not need “any permission from any country” in carrying out rotation and resupply (RORE) missions in the West Philippine Sea.
The National Security Council also chimed in and shot down the China Coast Guard claim of issuing “temporary permits” for the Philippines’ resupply missions for its troops.
Although a 2016 ruling by an arbitration tribunal in the Hague has rejected Chinese claims to what is by international law within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, Beijing has ignored the ruling and continues to claim huge swathes of territory in the South China Sea, including those in the West Philippine Sea.
A listless Philippine government may have allowed China to run roughshod over our own legitimate territorial claims in the recent past, but it is now a relief to see our current government and armed forces finally asserting our territorial rights. These ridiculous claims of needing permission to bring supplies to our own troops within our own territory need to be contested and countered at every opportunity, so China and the international community will know that the Philippines is no longer allowing its territory to be squatted on, at least without some pushback.*
