‘No special arrangement with China’

THE National Security Council (NSC) yesterday belied a pronouncement of China that it made temporary special arrangements that allowed the Philippines to deliver supplies to troops at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.

At a public briefing, NSC Assistant Director General and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said they were surprised by the pronouncement of the Chinese Coast Guard about the supposed arrangements.

“But what I can say is there is no such temporary arrangement,” he said.

“According to the statement coming from the Chinese Coast Guard, there is a temporary special arrangement given by the Chinese Coast Guard for us to conduct resupply mission.

Again, this is a figment of the imagination of the Chinese Coast Guard. There is no truth to this,” he said.

Malaya said it is the government’s duty to resupply the troops at Ayungin Shoal.

“And we do not need to get the permission of anyone, including the Chinese Coast Guard, if we bring supplies through whatever means, whether it’s through ship or by air. We continue to support them and we have the right to do so and we don’t need to ask permission from any country,” he added.

Earlier yesterday, AFP spokeswoman Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said a permission from any country is not needed for the military to resupply its troops at the shoal.

The Chinese Coast Guard over the weekend said it has made “temporary special arrangements” to allow the Philippines to deliver supplies to Filipino troops at the shoal.

Filipino troops at Ayungin Shoal are staying at BRP Sierra Madre, a rusting Philippine Navy ship that was grounded at the area in 1999 to serve as military outpost.

China has said that while it allowed necessary supplies at the shoal, it would defend China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests at the shoal and its adjacent waters.

On January 21, a Philippine Navy aircraft airdropped supplies at the shoal due to the unavailability of a supply boat that was damaged during a resupply mission last December 10.

The boat, Unaizah Mae 1, was subjected to dangerous maneuvers, water cannoning and ramming by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel. AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr personally