AFP refutes China’s claim of collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) denied China’s recent allegation of a collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels near Ayungin Shoal, dismissing the accusations as misleading and deceptive.
In a statement to reporters, AFP Public Affairs Office Chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad emphasized that the Philippines would not entertain China’s claims. Trinidad reiterated that the Philippines will not disclose operational details of the legal humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, located well within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The dispute arose after the Chinese Coast Guard asserted that a Philippine vessel conducting a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal had unlawfully entered waters claimed by China. Trinidad underscored that the focal point remains on the illegal presence of Chinese vessels within the Philippines’ EEZ, violating the nation’s sovereignty and sovereign rights.
China’s expansive claim over the South China Sea, dismissing rival claims from various Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines and an international verdict deeming its stance legally untenable, has been a longstanding issue. To enforce its position, China dispatches coast guard and other vessels to patrol the waters, transforming several reefs into militarized artificial islands.
Incidents of Chinese Coast Guard vessels using water cannons against Philippine boats and occasional collisions resulting in injuries to Filipino soldiers have been reported in the contested waters.
