Naglabas ng pahayag ang China Coast Guard (CCG) hinggil sa naging pagbunggo nito sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-contracted indigenous resupply boat na Unaiza May 2 (UM2) na nagsasagawa ng rotation and resupply (RORE) mission sa BRP Sierra Madre na bahagi ng Ayungin Shoal nitong Linggo, Oktubre 22.
Ayon kay CCG spokesperson Gan Yu, “tresspassing” umano ang vessels ng Pilipinas, kung saan pinawalang-bahala raw ng bansa ang kanilang “repeated dissuasion” at “warnings” dahil nagpadala pa rin umano ito ng supply ships at coast guard vessels sa tabi ng katubigan ng Ren'ai Reef sa Nansha Islands na bahagi umano ng China.
“On October 22, in disregard of China’s repeated dissuasion and warnings, the Philippines insisted on sending 2 supply ships and 2 coast guard vessels into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands without permission, in an attempt to illegally deliver construction materials to the illegally grounded warship,” ani Yu.
“In response, the China Coast Guard ships took necessary regulatory measures according to law against the Philippine vessels illegally carrying construction materials and special temporary arrangements against the Philippines’ move to deliver food and other necessary daily necessities.”
Chinese vessel, bumangga sa resupply boat ng AFP sa Ayungin Shoal
“The on-site management was reasonable, lawful and professional. During the process, the Philippine vessels approached the Chinese side in an unsafe manner in disregard of the stern warnings of the Chinese side and caused a collision. The responsibility lay entirely with the Philippine side,” dagdag pa niya.
Iginiit din ng CCG spokesperson na may “indisputable sovereignty” umano ang China sa Nansha Islands kabilang na raw ang Ren’ai Reef at mga kalapit na katubigan nito.
“The Philippines’ action infringes upon China’s territorial sovereignty, violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and breaks its own promise. We urge the Philippine side to stop its infringement immediately,” giit ni Yu.
“The China Coast Guard will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in the waters under China’s jurisdiction in accordance with the law, and resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” saad pa niya.
Matatandaang inihayag ng National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) nitong Linggo na bumangga ang barko ng CCG sa resupply boat ng AFP sa gitna ng RORE mission sa BRP Sierra Madre.
Bukod dito, sinabi rin ng NTF-WPS na sa parehong RORE mission ay bumangga rin umano ang Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003) sa port side ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) na MRRV 4409 habang nasa humigit-kumulang 6.4 nautical miles ito sa hilagang-silangan ng Ayungin Shoal.
Ang naturang aksyon ng CCG ay kinondena ng Pilipinas maging ng iba pang mga bansa tulad ng United States.
