MANILA, Philippines- Inakusahan ng China ang Pilipinas ng tangkang “long-term occupation” sa Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal at dumepensa sa aksyon ng China Coast Guard (CCG) noong Hunyo 17 na tinawag itong “professional” at “restrained.”
Sa kanyang regular press conference nitong Miyerkules, Hunyo 19, sinabi ni Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian na ang “situation” nitong linggo ay naganap dahil sa “Philippines’ ignoring of China’s dissuasion and deliberate intrusion into the waters of Ren’ai Jiao which is part of China’s Nansha Qundao.”
“The law enforcement action taken by China Coast Guard on the scene was professional and restrained and aimed at stopping the illegal ‘resupply mission,’” wika niya.
Sinabi rin ng opisyal na hindi sila nagsagawa ng “direct measures against the Philippine personnel.”
“The Philippines keeps saying that they were sending living necessities, but secretly they’ve been trying to send construction materials and even weapons and ammunition to the grounded warship for the long-term occupation of Ren’ai Jiao,” dagdag ni Lin, gamit ang Chinese name para sa Ayungin Shoal.
Nitong Lunes, napaulat na nagbanggaan ang vessels ng Pilipinas at China malapit sa shoal kung saan matatagpuan ang nakasadsad an BRP Sierra Madre.
Sinabi ng National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) na nagsagawa ang China ng “dangerous maneuvers, including ramming and towing” habang nagsasagawa ang Philippine authorities ng routine rotation and resupply mission.
Nanawagan ang foreign ambassadors sa China na itigil nito ang agresibong aksyon sa pinagtatalunang teritoryo na maaaring makapaapekto sa kapayapaan at seguridad sa rehiyon.
Subalit, nanindigan ang China na dinepensahan nito ang karapatan at interes sa resource-rich waters na inaangkin nito.
“China urges the Philippines to stop its infringement and provocation at once. We will continue to defend our sovereignty and lawful rights and interests,” giit ni Lin. RNT/SA
