UPDATE: The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), General Romeo Brawner, found himself at the center of a tense situation when the boat he was on came under attack from China’s water cannons. On a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, General Brawner was aboard the Unaizah Mae 1 when a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship fired a high-pressure stream of water at them.
Accompanying General Brawner were Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, commander of the AFP’s Western Command, and other AFP personnel. Despite the incident, the Unaizah Mae 1 successfully completed its mission to deliver provisions to the Filipino troops stationed at the derelict Philippine Navy ship Sierra Madre in Ayungin.
In an interview, General Brawner revealed that the Chinese vessel even attempted to bump their boat. While he admitted to feeling angry about the incident, he clarified that he was not afraid. He expressed his belief that the Chinese ship may not have been aware of his presence on board. It is worth noting that General Brawner was dressed in civilian clothing during the trip.
“We keep on avoiding them, but they continue to harass; it’s dangerous, it’s dangerous,” General Brawner stated, highlighting the recurring nature of such incidents. He also spent some time with the soldiers stationed on the Sierra Madre, emphasizing the importance of their presence in Ayungin Shoal as a symbol of the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone.
China has deployed a large number of ships to block the “Christmas Convoy,” a civilian vessel convoy scheduled to deliver gifts to troops stationed in several Philippine features in the West Philippine Sea. Due to the latest incident at Ayungin, the organizers decided to abort the trip.
During the return journey from the shoal, General Brawner described feeling “tremendous” discomfort due to the sea swells pounding the Unaizah Mae 1. As a result, he transferred to a Philippine Navy ship to complete the return voyage to Palawan.
In response to China’s aggression, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed the Philippines’ unwavering determination to defend and protect its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea. He condemned the presence of Chinese ships in the area as illegal and their actions as an outright violation of international law and the rules-based international order.
The President directed the uniformed services to prioritize the safety of personnel while maintaining a mission-oriented mindset. He reiterated that Ayungin Shoal falls within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, dismissing any foreign claim of sovereignty over it as baseless and contrary to international law. The President also emphasized that Bajo de Masinloc is sovereign Philippine territory and an integral part of the country’s archipelago. Therefore, only the Philippines has the legitimate right and legal basis to operate in the West Philippine Sea.
Despite the challenges posed by China’s aggressive actions, the Philippines remains undeterred in its commitment to protect its interests and uphold international law in the West Philippine Sea.
Source: The Manila Times
