PH vessels reached 'closest approach' to Ayungin Shoal in latest resupply mission, PCG says

Filipino vessels had their closest approach to Ayungin Shoal in the latest resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre despite the blockade by Chinese ships, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said Philippine vessels were able to reach 0.9 nautical miles from Ayungin during the November 10 resupply mission.

“Noong mga nakaraang resupply mission, ang distance natin, we have 10 nautical miles, nine, eight, seven, and then five. And then ngayon, this is the closest, 0.9 nautical mile,” Tarriela told Dobol B TV.

(In the previous resupply missions, our distance was 10 nautical miles, nine, eight, seven, and then five. And now, this is the closest, 0.9 nautical mile.)

During the latest resupply mission, a China Coast Guard vessel fired a water cannon at M/L Kalayaan while it was on its way to Ayungin Shoal.

Tarriela, however, said the PCG is undeterred and will continue to keep getting closer to BRP Sierra Madre.

“Despite of all these, we still have the commitment, the PCG, na patuloy tayong tutulong sa Armed Forces para mag-resupply at siguraduhin nating mas magiging constant ang ating paglapit dito sa BRP Sierra Madre,” said Tarriela.

(Despite all these, the PCG remains committed to assisting the Armed Forces in resupply missions and ensuring that we will be more constant in getting closer to the BRP Sierra Madre.)

“Kaya lang din naman nagiging ganiyan ngayon ang behavior ng China is because sa side ng PCG, Philippine government, we are really pushing them for us to get near sa Ayungin Shoal,” he added.

(China's behavior is a result of the PCG and the Philippine government's push to get closer to Ayungin Shoal.)

“They are also just responding with our intention to come close,” Tarriela said.

China has called on the Philippines to remove the ship amid its claim over the area. 

However, Ayungin Shoal is inside the Philippines’ 200-km exclusive economic zone based on the 2016 Arbitral Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

PCG personnel successfully entered Ayungin Shoal on Friday after evading up to 15 China Coast Guard vessels and Chinese militia vessels.

This allowed them to go near the BRP Sierra Madre and see the latest state of the grounded active naval post. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News