MANILA, Philippines- Ipagpapatuloy ng Pilipinas ang resupply mission sa West Philippine Sea sa kabila ng pagtatangka ng China na harangin ang operasyon nito at gumamit ng water cannon laban sa Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels, ayon sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“We will continue the resupply mission to ensure the well-being of our marines and sailors and to perform our obligations in the region,” pahayag ni AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar sa isang joint news briefing ng National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) nitong Lunes.
Matatandaang binomba ng Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) nitong Sabado gamit ang water cannon ang PCG vessels habang sinasamahan ang civilian boats na inarkila ng AFP upang magdala ng suplay sa BRP Sierra Madre.
Dumepensa ang Beijing on Monday nitong Lunes sa paggamit ng water cannon, at inakusahan na ang apat na Filipino vessels “broke into the waters adjacent to Renai Reef in the Nansha Islands of China without the approval of the Chinese government.” Idinagdag nito na ipagpapatuloy nito “to carry out rights protection law enforcement activities in the waters under Chinese jurisdiction.”
Tinutukoy ng China ang Ayungin bilang Renai Reef, at ang Spratly Islands bilang Nansha Islands. RNT/SA
