MANILA, Philippines- Binatikos ng US National Security Advisor ang “sinadyang pagbangga” ng People’s Republic of China sa dalawang Philippine Coast Guard vessels na nag-ooperate nang naaayon sa batas malapit sa Sabina Shoal sa exclusive economic zone ng Pilipinas noong Agosto 19.
Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ni NSA Jake Sullivan na kinausap na niya si Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Año para talakayin ang kamakailan lamang na anunsyo na $500 milyong U.S. military aid, na makatutulong para gawing modernisado ang Philippine Armed Forces at Coast Guard.
“Mr. Sullivan reiterated the ironclad U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft—to include those of its Coast Guard—anywhere in the South China Sea,” ayon sa kalatas ng White House.
Nauna rito, sinabi ng National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea na ang Philippine Coast Guard patrol ships BRP Bagacay at BRP Cape Engaño “encountered unlawful and aggressive maneuvers from Chinese Coast Guard vessels while en route to Patag and Lawak Islands in the West Philippine Sea.”
Winika ng NTF-WPS na ang pagmamaniobra ng Chinese ships “resulted in collisions, causing structural damage to both PCG vessels.”
Tinuran pa ng national task force na unang napinsala ang BRP Cape Engaño matapos ang “aggressive maneuvers” ng CCGV-3104 na nauwi sa pagbangga sa starboard beam ng Philippine patrol ship, nag-iwan ng five-inch hole sa deck.
Sinasabi pa na ang isa pang Chinese ship, CCGV 21551, ang dalawang ulit na binangga ang BRP Bagacay, nagresulta ng “minor structural damage.
Sa kabilang dako, sinabi naman ng state media ng Beijing na ang “Philippine vessel 4410 deliberately collided with China’s 21551 vessel” sa South China Sea “despite multiple warnings from the Chinese side.”
Inihayag ni Año na pinag-usapan nila ni Sullivan ang People’s Liberation Army Air Force plane na ginamit sa flares sa flight path ng Philippine Air Force aircraft na nagsasagawa ng routine maritime patrol sa Bajo de Masinloc.
“NSA Año underscored the Philippines’ unassailable rights in the West Philippine Sea based on international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award. He also thanked the United States government for the unremitting support and iron clad commitment to the Philippines-United States alliance,” ang nakasaad sa kalatas ng NSC.
Winika ni National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya na ang paghahain ng diplomatic protest ng Pilipinas laban sa naging aksyon ng Tsina ay “first in a series of actions” na gagawin ng bansa kasunod ng karahasan ng Chinese air force sa airspace.
Samantala, nakapagtala na ang Pilipinas ng 173 diplomatic protests sa Beijing sa nakalipas na dalawang taon at ilang daang iba pa bago pa ito. Kris Jose
