PH to China: Sierra Madre ‘permanent station’ in Ayungin Shoal

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 8, 2023): PH to China: Sierra Madre ‘permanent station’ in Ayungin Shoal (By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora and Priam Nepomuceno)

AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS. (From left) Philippine Coast Guard's Commodore Jay Tarriela, National Security Council's Jonathan Malaya, Armed Forces of the Philippines' Col. Medel Aguilar and Department of Foreign Affairs' Teresita Daza, all spokespersons, answer questions from the media during a press briefing at the DFA central office in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City on Monday (Aug. 7, 2023). Malaya said the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, led by National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, strongly condemns the aggressive, dangerous and unlawful actions by the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels that attacked Philippine-chartered supply boats and Philippine Coast Guard vessels with water cannons while undertaking a regular rotation and resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal on Saturday. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – The Philippine government has stood pat in its position that BRP Sierra Madre (LST-57), an active Philippine Navy commissioned vessel in Ayungin Shoal will stay as a “permanent station” for Filipino troops to protect the country's rights and interests over the West Philippine Sea.

The reiteration was made after China on Aug. 7 claimed that the Philippine government has “promised to tow away” the vessel from the shoal, while insisting it has sovereignty over the Ayungin Shoal, a feature within the Kalayaan Island Group less than 200 nautical miles off Palawan.

“The BRP Sierra Madre is a commissioned vessel of the Philippine Navy that serves as a permanent station for Philippine military personnel deployed to protect and secure Philippine rights and interests in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the Ayungin Shoal and its vicinity,” said Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza on Tuesday.

Daza said Manila decided to deploy a permanent station on Ayungin Shoal in 1999 in response to China’s illegal occupation of Panganiban Reef or the Mischief Reef in 1995.

“The deployment of a Philippine military station in its own areas of jurisdiction is an inherent right of the Philippines and does not violate any laws,” she said.

“Moreover, the Philippine station on Ayungin Shoal was deployed in 1999, years ahead of the conclusion in 2002 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and is therefore not a violation of the DOC,” she added.

Daza, in turn, said it is the Chinese Coast Guard’s actions, including the use of water cannon on Philippine military supply boats on Aug. 5 that were "in violation of the relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Award on the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration, the 1972 COLREGS (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea), and the 2002 ASEAN-China DOC”.

Daza said CCG’s actions last week “impeded the Philippines’ legitimate and regular activities in its own exclusive economic zone”.

Ayungin Shoal, as explicitly stated in the 2016 arbitral ruling, Daza said, is a low-tide elevation that is not subject to sovereignty claims or appropriation.

“It is part of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines over which the Philippines has sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” she said.

“The Philippines’ resupply missions and repair of BRP Sierra Madre are part of regular operations in line with domestic and international law, and ensures safety and wellbeing of our stationed personnel,” she added.

The 2016 arbitral award is based on UNCLOS and affirms UNCLOS.

“It is final, legal and binding. China as a state party to UNCLOS is well aware of that and we call on China to faithfully adhere to its obligations and commitments as a state party to UNCLOS,” Daza said.

National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya also underscored that BRP Sierra Madre, the symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the area, would not be abandoned.

In a press conference on Monday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said: “We will do what is necessary to make sure that it will continue to stand there.”

Malaya on Tuesday maintained that the government would ensure that troops deployed in Ayungin Shoal are properly supplied.

He added that food and other supplies, including gasoline would be sent by the "Philippine government through (the AFP) Wescom (Western Command) and the Philippine Coast Guard."

Malaya declined to give further details for "operational security".

"I cannot disclose kung ano 'yung plano natin (what the plan will be) but definitely we can assure the public na hindi natin pababayaan 'yung mga tropa natin sa (we will not abandon our troops in) Ayungin Shoal," he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1207375