NSC vows more maritime patrols in West PH Sea

The Philippines will conduct more maritime patrols and freedom of navigation missions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after Chinese ships seeking to block a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal collided with Filipino boats on Sunday.

The increase in patrols is also in response to the presence of “a large number of Chinese maritime militia vessels” not only near Ayungin but also in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal, said Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the National Security Council (NSC).

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it was considering other modes of resupplying the Philippine Navy ship BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal after China’s repeated efforts to block resupply missions.

In a televised briefing, AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said othermodes of resupply could include sending faster ships and airdrops or helicopter drops, all using civilian craft, as they want to avoid using Navy or military assets in the resupply missions.

The AFP spokesman also said the Philippines would continue to conduct maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea.

“This is our way of showing to the world that we are asserting oursovereign rights and we will never give up the right of the people to enjoy the benefits from whatever resources we can get from our exclusive economic zone,” he said.

Manila has condemned China’s actions on Sunday as a “blatant violation of international law” and “a serious escalation of the illegal activities conducted by the Chinese government in the West Philippine Sea.”

China, on the other hand, has accused the Philippines of intruding on what it views as its territory, in contravention of a UN tribunal’s decision that its claims over much of the South China Sea are without legal basis.

Malaya accused China of conducting a misinformation campaign in which “false narratives” are shared with the public.

“Some critics are saying this is just posturing on the part of the Philippines… This is a battle for the resources of our country, particularly those for our fishermen,” Malaya said.

Malaya said the government is considering filing a case against China before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) over the Oct. 22 collision.

“There are many options that are on the table right now. We can file a case in the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea,” Malaya said.

Maritime security expert Raymond Powell, SeaLight director of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said he expects maritime encounters between the Philippines and China to continue.

“A sort of transparency unfortunately will probably not result in China abruptly changing course,” Powell said in an interview with ANC.

“Although you’ve seen modifications to their behavior,” he added. “For example now they bring their own cameras and they tell their own story.”

Powell said China’s interests and those of other claimant states “arejust too far apart” for any real progress to be made on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea.

“Ultimately China wants to use the code of conduct to reinforce its claim and of course, the other maritime countries want to avoid that.

And so this is a dance that’s going to continue to go on in perpetuity.”

In other developments:

* President Marcos vowed his continued support in modernizing and transforming the Armed Forces of the Philippines into a world-class force. In a traditional dinner for the AFP Council of Sergeants Major in Malacañang on Monday, President Marcos reminded the troops to remain committed to their duty to serve the nation. In a radio interview Tuesday, AFP chief Gen. Romeo R. Brawner Jr. called on lawmakers to help realize the modernization program.

* Senator Francis Tolentino said those onboard the resupply boatUnaiza May 2 (UM2) that was hit by a Chinese ship Sunday could file acase against that vessel. He noted that the Chinese boat that bumpedthe resupply ship is not covered by sovereign immunity. And, ifChinese claims are true that the ship was not from its coast guard,then its owner can be held accountable to pay for damages incurred bythe UM2.

* The security advisers of both the United States and the Philippineson Monday reaffirmed the standing alliance of the two nationsfollowing the latest dangerous maneuvers of Chinese vessels in theWest Philippine Sea. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan saidthat he spoke over the phone with Philippine National Security AdvisorEduardo Año and reiterated US support for the Philippines. “Mr.Sullivan emphasized the ironclad U.S. alliance commitments to thePhilippines under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, whichextends to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, andarmed forces—to include those of its Coast Guard—in the Pacific,including in the South China Sea,” a US statement said.

* Japan on Tuesday vowed to work with the United States, members ofthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and other members of theinternational community, to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific afterChina again tried to block the resupply of the BRP Sierra Madre inAyungin Shoal. In a statement, the Japanese Embassy in the Philippinesexpressed “serious concern for actions which increase regionaltensions including a dangerous action that caused a collision betweenChinese and Filipino ships on October 22nd.”

* China blamed the United States for endorsing Manila’s “acts ofinfringement and provocation.” Mao Ning, China’s Foreign Ministryspokesperson, said the Philippines’ “infringement and provocation atRen’ai Jiao have been emboldened and supported by US connivance andsupport.”

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