Isang barko ng China Coast Guard (CCG) ang bumangga nitong Linggo sa isang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-contracted boat na patungo sana sa Ayungin Shoal para sa isang resupply mission.
Sa pahayag ng National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) na ibinahagi ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sa kanilang social media page, nabatid na dakong alas- 6:04 ng umaga nang maganap ang naturang “dangerous blocking maneuvers” ng China Coast Guard vessel 5203 (CCGV 5203) na nagresulta sa kolisyon o pagbangga nito sa resupply boat na Unaiza May 2 (UM2), may 13.5 nautical miles, east northeast ng BRP Sierra Madre.
Anang NTF-WPS, nagsasagawa ang UM2 ng regular and routine rotation and resupply (RORE) mission sa BRP Sierra Madre, na matagal nang nakasadsad sa Ayungin Shoal, nang maganap ang insidente.
Dagdag nito, “The provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action of CCGV 5203 imperiled the safety of the crew of UM2.”
Samantala, sinabi ng NTF-WPS na sa parehong RORE mission, nabangga rin umano ng Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003) ang port side ng PCG na MRRV 4409 habang nasa humigit-kumulang 6.4NM Northeast ito ng Ayungin Shoal.
“The RORE mission is still ongoing, with Unaiza May 1 (UM1) reaching BRP SIERRA MADRE to successfully resupply our troops and personnel stationed there,” saad ng ahensya.
Mariin rin namang kinondena ng NTF-WPS ang naturang “mapanganib” at “iligal” umanong aksyon ng CCG at Chinese Maritime Militia.
“NTF-WPS condemns in the strongest degree the latest dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal actions of the CCG and the Chinese Maritime Militia done this morning, in violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction and in utter blatant disregard of the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and relevant international maritime conventions, and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” saad pa nito..
Una nang sinabi ng CCG na naharang nila, “lawfully”, ang mga barko ng Pilipinas na nagbibiyahe ng mga “illegal construction materials” sa BRP Sierra Madre.
Samantala, mariin na rin namang kinondena ng US Embassy ang naturang ginawa ng CGC lalo na at naglagay ito sa alanganin sa buhay ng mga Pinoy na sakay ng bangka.
Sa kanyang X (dating Twitter) account, sinabi ni US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson na, “We stand with our #FriendsPartnersAllies in protecting Philippine sovereignty and in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific.”