The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) has condemned China&rsquo;s aggressive and destabilizing conduct against Philippine Navy ships in their successful resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal inside the Philippines&rsquo; exclusive economic zone (EZZ).
In a press release issued on Friday, September 8, the Task Force said that Western Command (WESCOM), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), assisted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), has "successfully resupplied the BRP Sierra Madre."
However, the NTF-WPS strongly condemned the "harassment, dangerous maneuvers, and aggresive misconduct" of the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
"We reiterate and reemphasize that these operations are pursuant to our government's legitimate exercise of its administrative functions and jurisdictions over the West Philippine Sea, firmly anchored on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the final bidding 2016 Arbitral Award," the statement read.
The Task Force cited President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s conclusion during the 43rd ASEAN Summit saying: "Practical cooperation in the maritime domain can only flourish with an enabling environment of regional peace, security, and stability anchored in international law."
"We call on all to do their part in ensuring a peaceful and rules-based international order in the oceans," it noted.
China made headlines in the country for years after claiming parts of the Philippines, particularly the West Philippine Sea, which is a part of the country's EZZ.
On August 6, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that the China Coast Guard (CCG) <a href="https://dzrh.com.ph/post/pcg-condemns-china-coast-guard's-illegal-use-of-water-cannons" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dangerously maneuvered and illegally blasted water cannons </a>on its PCG vessels near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
China is still in "deaf" mode, disregarding legalities over the matter.

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Task Force for WPS condemns China’s aggressive, destabilizing conduct vs Philippine Navy ships