By Beting Laygo Dolor, Contributing Editor
After the China Coast Guard (CCG) blocked Philippine ships from heading to BRP Sierra Madre earlier this month, the country warned its powerful neighbor not to interfere again when another resupply mission heads for the grounded warship in Ayungin Shoal.
Over the weekend, the Armed Forces of the Philippines told the CCG not to meddle with its coming rotation and resupply mission to the Sierra Madre in order not to worsen the conflict.
The grounded ship is located well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but China claims it is part of their territory by virtue of what it calls its Nine Dash Line.
Last August 5, a CCG ship used a water cannon on Philippine ships led by a Philippine Coast Guard vessel, sparking a diplomatic protest as well as worldwide condemnation for what some called an act of war.
AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar told local media: “We call on all relevant parties to abide by their obligations under international law and respect the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its maritime shoals.”
The CCP should “behave,” he said, as another violent act preventing the AFP from pursuing its resupply mission and “the blame will be on them and to the authorities above them.”
As a result of the August 5 incident, only one of two boats chartered by the AFP and escorted by the PCG were able to deliver much-needed water, food, and supplies to the Sierra Madre.
The other supply boat could not complete its mission due to what its crew referred to as the CCG’s “dangerous maneuvers.”
The AFP said that notwithstanding the possibility of another assault by the CCG, their mission will “take place soon.”
Aguilar added: “This exercise of our sovereign rights and jurisdiction is a testament to the full belief in the rules-based international order that underpins regional peace and stability.”
It will also serve as a “clear demonstration of our resolve to stand up against the threats and coercion” that they face from foreign forces, he said.
While the failed resupply mission earlier this month was clearly a humanitarian act, the Chinese accused the Philippines of trying to bring in construction materials with which to build a more permanent structure in Ayungin Shoal.
The Sierra Madre is a World War ll-era ship that was intentionally grounded in the shoal in 1999 to serve as the country’s outpost in the West Philippine Sea. It is, however, a derelict that could be destroyed by the elements at any time.
After the water cannon assault, China was lambasted by various countries including the US, Japan, Australia, and the European Union. The US also stated that the Philippines could depend on its help should the situation with China deteriorate to outright hostilities by virtue of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries.
China’s foreign ministry said that the Philippines should not overreact as diplomacy was still the best option in settling disputes between two friendly states.
But China also reminded the Philippines that a promise had been made as far back as 1999 by a former Philippine president to remove the Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal.
This promise was denied by former president Joseph Estrada, whose family said no such promise had been made.
Estrada’s successor, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, also categorically denied this week that she or her administration had ever made such a commitment to China.
For its part, China stated that it would not identify who made the commitment after current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said last week that he was not aware of such an agreement and that it could be considered scrapped if indeed it ever existed.