WAS there or was there no collision between vessels of the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the waters adjacent to Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal?
The Chinese coast guard said in a statement Monday a Philippine resupply ship in the area had “ignored many solemn warnings from the Chinese side” and “approached the… Chinese vessel in an unprofessional way, resulting in a collision.”
But the Armed Forces of the Philippines underscored it would not dignify China’s “misleading claims” on the reported collision.
According to AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad, the main issue is the illegal presence of Chinese vessels in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“The AFP will not discuss operational details on the legal humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, which is well within our EEZ. We will not dignify the deceptive and misleading claims of the China Coast Guard,’’ Trinidad said.
Trinidad is correct. The main issue remains the illegal presence and actions of Chinese vessels within the Manila’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone, which infringes on our sovereignty and sovereign rights.
The Second Thomas Shoal lies well within the Philippines’ EEZ, as recognized by the 2016 arbitral ruling that rejected China’s sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea as invalid under international maritime law.
Thus, Manila has every right to resupply its troops stationed there. Given that the Chinese vessels were seeking to impede this lawful exercise of sovereignty, observers have noted Beijing bears ultimate responsibility for the collisions – if indeed there were – that took place.
Again, we note the timing of the reported collision.
The first brief Chinese statement on the incident was released at 6:11 a.m., only seven minutes after the collision was reported to have taken place.
The speed with which China’s statement chased the reported collision indubitably raises speculations, as some observers have underlined the incident was not a mere accident, but that Beijing “had premeditated a strong response to intercept the Philippine supply mission, indicative of a calculated escalation.”
While it’s hard to determine a military scheme at this point, we see, given recent disturbing harassments in the area by the giant neighbor, it appears to us there is a synergetic jaunt intended to weaken Manila’s hold over features in the disputed waters.