Navy says no deal with China on BRP Sierra Madre resupply

Philippine Navy’s grounded BRP Sierra Madre. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has no agreement with China, which insists that it will only allow one resupply boat to reach the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

Navy spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, made the pronouncement during a regular press briefing of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday.

READ: China told PH it will only let 1 boat reach Ayungin – AFP official

“There is no such agreement. These are narratives from China that would … back up their actions on the ground, so the narrative would support the action,” said Trinidad when asked to react to China’s claim.

According to AFP Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, the China Coast Guard (CCG) radioed the Philippine resupply contingent that it will only allow one ship to reach the military outpost.

Navy did not respond

Carlos said CCG communicated this through a radio challenge to resupply boat, Unaizah Mae 4 (UM). However, the crew did not acknowledge the said challenge.

He was aboard the said vessel, which was water cannoned by two CCG ships. This incident resulted in the injury of four Navy personnel.

Beijing’s action is based on its belief that it owns almost the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. Such a claim has been effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling.