MANILA, Philippines – Inihayag ng China na nangako umano ang Pilipinas na aalisin na at hahatakin ang nabalahaw na BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal.
Sa pahayag na inilabas nitong Lunes, Agosto 8, sinabi ng Foreign Ministry ng China na ilang beses umanong nangako ang Pilipinas ngunit hindi naman tinutupad.
Iginiit din ng China na ang Ayungin Shoal, na tinatawag nilang Ren’ai Jiao “has always been part of China’s Nansha Qundao.”
“In 1999, the Philippines sent a military vessel and deliberately ran it aground at Ren’ai Jiao, attempting to change the status quo of Ren’ai Jiao illegally. China immediately made serious démarches to the Philippines, demanding the removal of the vessel. The Philippines promised several times to tow it away, but has yet to act. Not only that, the Philippines sought to overhaul and reinforce the military vessel in order to permanently occupy Ren’ai Jiao.”
Ang tugon na ito ng Foreign Ministry ng China ay kasunod ng insidente sa Ayungin Shoal kung saan sila mismo ang umatake sa mga barko ng Philippine Coast Guard gamit ang water cannon para maghatid ng suplay sa mga sundalong Filipino sa West Philippine Sea noong Agosto 5.
Ipinagpipilitan naman ng Beijing na ang insidente ay nangyari dahil hindi pinansin ng PCG ang paulit-ulit na babala ng China sa kanila.
“The Philippines sent two vessels that intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao and tried to deliver the construction materials for overhauling and reinforcing the grounded military vessel. Such actions violated China’s sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. The China Coast Guard vessels stopped them in accordance with law and warned them off through appropriate law enforcement measures. Their maneuvers were professional, restrained and beyond reproach,” ayon sa China.
Kasabay nito, binatikos din ng China ang Estados Unidos sa “brazenly bolstering the Philippines as it infringes upon China’s sovereignty,” sabay-sabing ang South China Sea arbitration ay “pure political drama” lamang.
Sumagot naman si National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya at nagsabing walang alam ang foreign affairs officials ng bansa sa kung ano ang pinagsasasabi ng China tungkol dito.
“We have no idea what they are talking about. I have talked to our colleagues from the Department of Foreign Affairs, even the ones from the Department of National Defense from the previous administrations. There was no commitment, whatsoever, as far as the Philippines is concerned and there is no record of any such commitment,” ani Malaya sa panayam ng ANC nitong Martes, Agosto 8.
“There is no record of a meeting or an official record that the Philippines, in the past, committed to China that it will tow away the BRP Sierra Madre,” giit niya. RNT/JGC
