MANILA, Philippines — Umabot sa 48 barko ng militar at coast guard ng China ang namataan sa ilang bahagi ng West Philippine Sea mula Hulyo 1 hanggang 31, ayon kay AFP spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad nitong Martes.
Kabilang dito ang 14 barko sa Ayungin Shoal—isang People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel at 13 China Coast Guard ships; 22 sa Bajo de Masinloc—tatlong PLAN at 19 CCG vessels; apat sa Escoda Shoal—isang PLAN at tatlong CCG ships; at walo malapit sa Pag-asa Islands—tatlong PLAN at limang CCG vessels.
Sinabi ni Trinidad na “these figures underscore the continued conduct of [illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive] activities that undermine the rules-based international order and challenge the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction within its maritime domain.”
“Such actions contribute to regional tensions and highlight the importance of continued vigilance and adherence to international law,” dagdag niya.
Nauna nang iniulat ng AFP na walong tauhan ng China Coast Guard ang lumapit at humampas umano gamit ang mga batutang kahoy sa mga tauhan ng Philippine Navy na sakay ng rubber boat sa Ayungin Shoal noong Hulyo 20.
Inaangkin ng China ang halos buong South China Sea, kabilang ang mga bahaging inaangkin din ng Pilipinas, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia at Brunei. Mahigit $3 trilyong halaga ng kalakal na ibinibiyahe sa pamamagitan ng barko ang dumaraan dito kada taon.
Tinatawag ng Pilipinas na West Philippine Sea ang mga karagatang nasa kanlurang bahagi ng kapuluan, kabilang ang Luzon Sea at mga katubigan sa paligid ng Kalayaan Island Group at Bajo de Masinloc.
Noong 2016, pinaboran ng Permanent Court of Arbitration sa The Hague ang Pilipinas at sinabing “no legal basis” ang malawak na pag-angkin ng China sa South China Sea. Tumanggi ang Beijing na kilalanin ang desisyon.
“Despite these developments, the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines remain steadfast in fulfilling their mandate to safeguard the nation’s maritime interests,” sinabi ni Trinidad.
“Through sustained operational presence, enhanced maritime domain awareness, strengthened inter-agency coordination, and continued capability development, the AFP remains committed to protecting national sovereignty, upholding maritime security, and promoting peace, stability, and the rule of law in the West Philippine Sea,” dagdag niya. RNT
