CHINA’S SENTINELS A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship carries out a replenishment operation for other vessels in the South China Sea. The CCG conducted regular training exercises in the waters near Scarborough Shoal. XInhua
BEIJING – China on Thursday urged the Philippines to return to the right track of properly settling maritime differences through negotiation and consultation, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.
Wang said that China has made its position clearly regarding the comments of Philippine senior officials on Chinese diplomats in the Philippines last week.
The information released by the Chinese Embassy is entirely factual, Wang said, pointing that whether it's the "gentlemen's agreement," or the internal understandings, or the "new model" on properly managing the situation in the South China Sea, they all have clear timelines and are supported by solid evidence. No one can deny their existence.
"The Philippines' persistent denial and breach of commitment and blaming it all on China shows exactly who is acting in bad faith, infringing the other side's sovereignty and making provocations on Ren'ai Jiao," he said.
Wang said that over the years, China and ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, have maintained close communication and cooperation, signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), been committed to advancing the consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and kept the South China Sea generally stable.
"The Philippines has escalated tensions in the South China Sea by involving non-regional actors in trying to create trouble. What the Philippines has done undermines solidarity and mutual trust among regional countries and peace and stability in the South China Sea. These actions bring no good but only harm to regional countries," he noted.
"If the Philippines does not change course, China will take necessary measures to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests," Wang said.
'Atin Ito' advance team reaches Bajo de Masinloc
The "Atin Ito Coalition" on Thursday announced that its advance team had managed to breach the Chinese blockade at Bajo de Masinloc (also known as Scarborough Shoal) and succeeded in delivering fuel and food packs to Filipino fisherfolk in the area.
In a social media, post, the group said their advance team departed for Bajo de Masinloc on Tuesday morning, ahead of the departure of their main convoy on Wednesday.
The "Atin Ito" main convoy consisted of four large fishing boats and 100 smaller bancas.
"The 10-member advance team comprised of members from Akbayan Party, Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) arrived 25-30 nautical miles of the general vicinity Bajo de Masinloc on May 15," the group said.
It added that the advance team immediately handed over crucial provisions, including fuel and food, to Filipino fisherfolks working in the area.
Some 144 Filipino fisherfolk from six mother boats and 36 small fishing boats benefitted from this effort.
"Their efforts resulted in the distribution of 1,000 liters of diesel and 200 food packs. This is despite a Chinese Navy ship with body number 175 constantly shadowing them," the group said.
It added that this feat mirrors the success of their December 2023 inaugural civilian mission, where the group's smaller supply boat, M/L Chowee, navigated past Chinese vessels' harassment near Ayungin Shoal to deliver supplies to frontline workers on Lawak Island.
SUCCESS A member of the advance team of the civilian group Atin Ito Coalition hands over fuel and other supplies to Filipino fisherfolk in the Bajo de Masinloc (also known as Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea on Thursday (May 16, 2024). Some 144 Filipino fisherfolk from six mother boats and 36 small fishing boats benefitted from this effort. ATIN TO COALITION PHOTO
"Despite China's massive blockade, we managed to breach their illegal blockade, reaching Bajo de Masinloc to support our fishers with essential supplies. Mission accomplished!" said Akbayan president Rafaela David, a co-convenor of "Atin Ito".
She said this stands as a testament to the ingenuity, resourcefulness and bravery of the Filipino spirit amidst formidable challenges.
"China may possess larger and more vessels, and wield strong water cannons, but we possess a secret weapon: our 'diskarteng Pinoy,' which, when coupled with determination and love for fellow citizens and country, can surmount even the most daunting adversity,” David said.
"Tagumpay po tayo! (We succeeded!) This mission is a tremendous success. We have achieved so many things despite the extraordinary challenges. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas at ang mamamayang Pilipino. West Philippine Sea, atin ito! (Long live the Philippines and the Filipino people. The West Philippine Sea is ours!" she added.
The last remaining boats of the civilian convoy are now returning to Subic, Zambales after completing their three-day resupply mission.
In a situation update on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said BRP Bagacay -- one of the escorts of the civilian mission -- was with four Filipino fishing vessels (FFV) in waters 67.4 nautical miles (NM) off Magalawa Island at around noon.
These vessels included FFV John with 26 crew and 25 passengers, FFV Aguian with seven crew and 18 passengers, FFV Paty with nine crew and 14 passengers, and FFV BingBing with 29 crew and 29 passengers.
The last activity of the convoy was at 11:40 a.m. when the four FFVs stopped for a short prayer led by a priest onboard FFV BingBing.
Since 10 a.m., BRP Bagacay spotted three Chinese vessels in their vicinity -- Chinese Coast Guard Vessel (CCGV) 4108 with a distance of 3.2 NM from the convoy, CCGV 4203 with an estimated distance of 1,400 yards, and People’s Liberation Army -- Navy (PLA-N) 668 with an estimated distance of 4.6 NM.
At around 11:20 a.m., CCGV 4203 continued shadowing the convoy and maintained a distance of 1,100 yards.
On Wednesday, BRP Bagacay reported multiple sightings and shadowing activities by Chinese vessels on the Atin Ito convoy.
These included shadowing by CCG 4108 and CCG4109 with a distance of 1,800 yards and 1.3 NM respectively.
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Risa Hontiveros also commended the “extraordinary resolve and resilience" of the civilian mission even in the face of adversity and blatant intimidation by Chinese vessels.
"China may possess larger vessels and wield strong water cannons, but ours as shown by Atin Ito Coalition lies in our secret weapon – diskarteng Pinoy (Filipino strategy), bayanihan (cooperative endeavor), resourcefulness and love for fellow citizens and country," Estrada said in a statement.
"Their courage and compassion embody the true essence of bayanihan and their actions mirror best what it means to be Filipino."
Hontiveros, meanwhile, slammed China for attempting to block the civilian convoy, and demanded the Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels to "keep your hands off our vessels and people."
"This group of ordinary and private citizens simply wants to deliver goods to fellow Filipinos whom China has long deprived of food and livelihood. The coalition should be free to navigate within our Exclusive Economic Zone," she said.
Filipino patriotism
Meanwhile, two House members lauded the “Atin Ito” regatta as a “remarkable source of pride and an excellent display of Filipino patriotism.”
In the daily press briefing at the House of Representatives, Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” M. Abante Jr. and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong both said they were “in awe of the sheer patriotism” shown by the Filipino civilians who took part in the regatta.
“I am actually inspired by the display ng (of) patriotism of our citizens in doing this. In fact, inisip ko na rin, sana eh (I was even thinking, if possible), I would like to invite some congressman to come with me to the West Philippine Sea,” Abante said.
Adiong was also all praises for the citizens who organized and went with the civilian regatta.
“It shows iyong malakas pa rin po iyong patriotism, iyong nationalism sa ating mga kababayan (patriotism and nationalism are still strong among our countrymen),” Adiong said.
He added that this also shows that many Filipinos support the position of President Ferdinand R. Marcos in the WPS issue.
“It speaks about civilian support at nakikiisa ang taongbayan sa ating Pangulo (and the people are united behind our President). It is a civic duty for each and every one of us who call ourselves Filipino to support this administration in pushing for our rights over the WPS,” Adiong said. Xinhua and PNA
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