The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has confirmed another attack by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and a Chinese militia during its regular rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to the detachment manning the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on Sunday morning, October 22.
BREAKING: Barko ng China coast guard, bumangga sa AFP-contracted na Unaizah May 2 na magsasagawa ng resupply mission sa Ayungin Shoal @dzrhnews
— Edniel Parrosa (@ednielparrosa) October 22, 2023
🎥: AFP / NTF-WPS https://t.co/7PjrrRElHK pic.twitter.com/dtSw9qjlHF
In a statement, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said the AFP contracted indigenous resupply boat Unaiza May 2 (UM2) collided due to a CCG's "dangerous blocking maneuvers" at around 6:04 a.m.
NTF-WPS said CCG 5203 (CCGV 5203) blocking happened at approximately 13.5 nautical miles (NM) east of BRP Sierra Madre (LS57), which only proclaims "provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action of CCGV 5203 imperiled the safety of the crew of UM2."
At the same time, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on its vessel MRRV 4409 was bumped by a Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003) while it was lying approximately 6.4 NM northeast of Ayungin Shoal.
The NTF-WPS said it condemns the latest illegal action of the CCG and the Chinese Maritime Militia as it violates the country's sovereignty, rights, and jurisdiction.
"The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (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), the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), relevant international maritime conventions, and the 2016 Arbitral Award," the NTF-WPS remarked.
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año said that the Philippines would not be deterred in its resupply efforts in the West Philippine Sea despite the collision incidents with China.
