Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Monday said he believes China was unaware of his presence on the boat that Chinese vessels rammed and water cannoned on Sunday — actions that he said infuriated him.
“Of course, what happened infuriated me,” Brawner told radio dzBB in a mix of English and Filipino.
“I believe that the Chinese didn’t know that I was there in Unaizah Mae 1; that’s why it happened, they didn’t change their tactics. Instead, they increased their aggressive actions,” he said.
Despite the Chinese actions, the AFP chief and other top military officials were able to set foot in the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II ship that has been grounded at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999 and stands as a symbol of the Philippines’ claim to the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Brawner said he relayed the message of President Marcos to the troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre, acknowledging their efforts to protect the country’s sovereign rights.
Brawner is the first sitting AFP chief of staff to have set foot on the ship. During their journey, he experienced firsthand the risks faced by the regular resupply missions as the China Coast Guard and its maritime militia continue their attempts to obstruct these missions.
Brawner was accompanied by Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, Commander of the AFP’s Western Command, and other AFP personnel.
After sharing an early Christmas meal with the troops, Brawner underscored the importance of the BRP Sierra Madre in establishing the country’s presence and jurisdiction within its maritime zone.
“We value your service and sacrifice which demonstrates the Filipino’s indomitable spirit in asserting our rights and performing our obligations under international law,” Brawner said.
“Your President is with you, I am with you, the whole Filipino nation is with you,” he added.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, meanwhile, proposed that Philippine vessels be equipped with water cannon and military-grade lasers to counter Chinese aggression. He said using the same equipment against the Chinese would be a “commensurate response.”
“China has been doing that. If China uses a laser on us, we should do the same,” he said.
He said he was being “practical” since diplomacy has not worked and “we cannot afford to proceed to the military option.”
Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito said he agreed with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri that the Chinese ambassador be sent back to China.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for WPS, disputed China’s claim that the Philippines was escalating tension in the South China Sea with its resupply missions.
“These operations were not intended to provoke any conflict but rather were routine in nature, with a humanitarian component aimed at supporting the livelihood of our fishermen and the well-being of our soldiers,” Tarriela said.
“The recent incidents highlight China’s blatant inclination to engage in illegal and hostile actions in order to assert their self-serving claim in the West Philippine Sea, based solely on the ten-dash line,” he added, referring to imaginary lines used by China as a basis for its expansionist moves in the South China Sea.
The previous nine-dash line claim had already been debunked by the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016, which favored the Philippines’ claims in the South China Sea.
“They have shown no hesitation in violating international law and even posing a threat to peace and the established rules-based order. It is evident that they carry out these illegal actions because they believe they can, taking advantage of the perceived vulnerability of countries like the Philippines to assert their dominance,” Tarriela said.
“This is the very reason why the Philippine government is actively exposing the bullying behavior of China to ensure that the Filipino people are aware of the challenges we face,” he continued.
Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said China’s continued aggression against Philippine vessels shows their intent is to take over Philippine waters.
Batongbacal blamed the Duterte administration for allowing intrusions in Philippine waters, which has led to the present situation.
He said the Philippines is now in effect being limited to only 22 nautical miles in the West Philippine Sea instead of the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone” beyond a nation’s territorial sea.
Also on Monday, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea is a violation of human rights and joined calls to expel Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian.