Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro vowed on Monday, June 17, that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will resist the 'dangerous and reckless behavior' of China in the West Philippine Sea.
Teodoro made the assurance after China disrupted another rotation and resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded Philippine vessel in the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, also known as the China Sea.
The Department of National Defense Chief said that the behavior of China 'contravenes their statements of good faith and decency'.
"We will exert our utmost in order to fulfill our sworn mandate to protect our territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights," Teodoro said in a statement.
"It should now be clear to the international community that China’s actions are the true obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea," he added.
The National Task Force for West Philippine Sea said that the ships of People's Liberation Army - Navy, China Coast Guard, and the Chinese Maritime Militia engaged in dangerous maneuvers, including ramming and towing.
"Despite the illegal, aggressive, and reckless actions by the Chinese maritime forces, our personnel showed restraint and professionalism, refrained from escalating the tension, and carried on with their mission," the task force said in a statement.
China Coast Guard, meanwhile, said that a Philippine supply ship 'deliberately and dangerously' approached a Chinese vessel resulting in a collission.
NTF-WPS condemned the actions of the Chinese vessels, which the task force decried as illegal, aggressive, and reckless.
"Their actions put at risk the lives of our personnel and damaged our boats, in blatant violation of international law, particularly the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award," the NTF-WPS said.
