MANILA, Philippines- Iginiit ng Philippine military nitong Huwebes na dapat respetuhin ng China ang soberanya ng Pilipinas at karapatan nitong magsagawa ng aktibidad sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Ito at matapos kumpirmahin ni Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office (AFP PAO) chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad na binuntutan ng Chinese warships ang ikalawang joint maritime patrol ng Philippine Navy at ng United States Navy sa rehiyon.
”Yes, we can confirm the presence of two PLA-N (People’s Liberation Army-Navy) vessels from a distance shadowing the participants of the MCA (maritime cooperative activity). We have identified a PLA-N Destroyer with BN174 and a PLA-N Frigate with BN570,” pahayag ni Trinidad.
”The MCA is well within (the) Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). We are hoping that China and other foreign countries will respect our sovereignty and right to conduct the activity that is following international law,” dagdag niya.
Batay sa mga naunang ulat, sinundan ng Chinese warships, tinukoy na guided missile destroyer Hefei (174) at ang frigate Huangshan (570), ang BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), sister ship nitong BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15) at BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602), sa paglalayag ng Filipino ships.
Subalit, hindi hinarangan ng umaaligid na vessels ang progreso ng PN ships sa paglalayag nito kasama nag US Navy 7th Fleet para sa joint maritime patrol.
Sinabi ni AFP chief of staff General Romeo Brawner na ang joint military activity ngayong linggo ay tanda ng”significant leap” sa alyansa ng Manila sa US at interoperability nito sa American military.
“Our alliance is stronger than ever, sending a message to the world. We are advancing a rules-based international order and a free and open Indo-Pacific region in the face of regional challenges,” wika ni Brawner.
Sa kasalukuyan ay wala pang pahayag ang Presidential Communications Office ukol sa insidente. RNT/SA
