MANILA, Philippines- Sinabi ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) na na-“mischaracterize” ng tagapagsalita ng Chinese Foreign Ministry ang resupply mission noong Hulyo 27 sa Ayungin Shoal sa gitna ng provisional arrangement sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Tsina sa naturang misyon.
Sa isang kalatas, binatikos ng DFA kung paano bigyan ng “false notions” ng hindi pinangalanang Chinese official ang provisional arrangement kaugnay sa resupply missions sa BRP Sierra Madre.
“Instead of acknowledging how two countries were able to manage differences in order to avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding, the Spokesperson chose to misrepresent what has been agreed between the Philippines and China regarding RORE missions in Ayungin Shoal,” ayon sa kalatas ng departamento.
“Let us make it absolutely clear: the understanding between the Philippines and China was concluded in good faith, with the explicit agreement that it will not prejudice national positions. It is not helpful to keep giving false notions about what has been agreed on and how they were implemented,” ayon pa rin sa departamento.
Sa isang kalatas na naka-post sa website ng Ministry of Foreign Affairs ng China, sinabi ng unnamed spokesperson na ang Philippines-China provisional arrangement ay “based on the three-point principled position of China on managing the situation at Ren’ai Jiao.”
Ang Ayungin Shoal, kung saan ang tawag ng Tsina rito ay Ren’ai Jiao, ay matatagpuan 105 nautical miles sa kanluran ng Palawan at nasa loob ng 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng bansa at bahagi ng continental shelf nito.
Nakasadsad simula pa noong 1999 ang BRP Sierra Madre, ang World War II ship simbolo ng “Philippines’ claim to the West Philippine Sea.”
Winika pa ng Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson na hindi nagbabago ang posisyon ng Tsina sa Ren’ai Jiao.
“China has sovereignty over Ren’ai Jiao, the rest of Nansha Qundao, and their adjacent waters. China will continue to properly deal with relevant territorial issues and disputes over maritime rights with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation,” anito pa rin.
Para naman sa Pilipinas, binigyang-diin ng DFA na nananatiling committed ang bansa sa mapayapang pag-aayos ng alitan kabilang, pamamagitan ng dayalogo at konsultasyon at kinikilala ang pagkakaunawaan sa RORE missions.
“We expect China will also adhere to the understanding as negotiated,” ayon pa rin sa DFA.
Araw ng Sabado, nagpatuloy ang resupply missions ng Pilipinas sa maliit na Navy contingent sa Ayungin Shoal nang walang anumang masamang insidente.
Ito’y matapos na umabot ang Pilipinas at Tsina sa isang pagkakaunawaan sa isang kasunduan na maiwasan ang alitan sa pinagtatalunang South China Sea Shoal.
Sinabi ng DFA na ang ‘new arrangement’ ay naglalayong tapusin na ang alitan sa pinagtatalunang shoal sa South China Sea, at ginawa ‘in good faith’ at hayagang pagtanggi sa sinabi ng Beijing na pumayag ito sa ilang kondisyon na matagal nang ni-reject ng Maynila.
Samantala, ukol naman sa July 27 RORE mission, sinabi ng Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson na ang buong proseso ay minonitor ng China Coast Guard.
“China had been informed of the resupply before it was carried out. After confirming on-the-scene that the Philippine vessel carried only humanitarian living necessities, the Chinese side let the vessel through,” ayon pa rin sa tagapagsalita.
Samantala, sinabi naman ng National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) na makikita ang iba’t ibang Chinese maritime forces sa bisinidad kabilang na ang apat na Chinese Coast Guard vessels, tatlong People’s Liberation Army-Navy vessels, at dalawang Chinese Maritime Militia vessels.
“During the entire duration of the mission, the Chinese vessels maintained their distance and did not undertake any action to disrupt the RORE,” ayon sa task force.
Binigyang-diin ng NTF-WPS na hindi mababago ng provisional arrangement ang posisyon ng Pilipinas, dahil ginawa lamang aniya ito para ibsan ang tensyon at mapigilan ang misunderstandings at miscalculations sa karagatan.
“To clarify, the Philippines did not and will never seek permission from the PRC to conduct resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal. There was also no boarding and inspection by the Chinese Coast Guard as claimed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in its statement yesterday,” dagdag nito. Kris Jose
