THE Philippines is not violating any laws when it deployed a military station in Ayungin Shoal, which is part of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEC), said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
DFA spokesperson Tess Daza said the Philippines decided to establish a permanent station for Philippine troops in Ayungin Shoal in response to China’s illegal occupation of the Panganiban Reef in 1995.
“The BRP Sierra Madre is a commissioned vessel of the Philippine Navy that serves as a permanent station for Philippine military personnel deployed to protect and secure Philippine rights and interests in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the Ayungin Shoal and its vicinity,” she said in a statement.
“The deployment of a Philippine military station in its own areas of jurisdiction is an inherent right of the Philippines and does not violate any laws. Moreover, the Philippine station on Ayungin Shoal was deployed in 1999, years ahead of the conclusion in 2002 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and is therefore not a violation of the DOC,” she added.
Daza made the statement following China’s claim that the Ayungin Shoal, which it referred to as Ren’ai Jiao, belongs to them.
China asserted its right on Ren’ai Jiao following an incident in Ayungin Shoal where a China Coast Guard ship used water cannon to drive away Philippine ships that were then conducting a resupply mission for the military personnel deployed in the BRP Sierra Madre.
It said the incident happened because the Philippines tried to bring construction materials in Ayungin Shoal.
Daza said the country’s resupply mission and repair of BRP Sierra Madre are part of regular operations in line with domestic and international law and ensures safety and wellbeing of its personnel.
“The China Coast Guard's actions on August 2023 impeded the Philippines' legitimate and regular activities in its own exclusive economic zone and were in violation of the relevant provisions of the 1982 Unclos, the Award on the 201G South China Sea Arbitration, the 1972 Colregs (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea), and the 2002 Asean-China DOC,” she said.
“The 2016 Arbitral Award is based on Unclos and affirms Unclos. It is final, legal and binding. China as a state party to Unclos is well aware of that and we call on China to faithfully adhere to its obligations and commitments as a state party to Unclos,” she added.
China said it does not accept or recognize the arbitral ruling, “and will never accept any claim or action based on the award.” (SunStar Philippines)