Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command handout photo/File
MANILA (UPDATED) — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday stressed that China has no right to interfere with Philippine activities aboard the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
He also refused to confirm or deny Beijing’s claim that alleged construction activities there violated a supposed provisional understanding with Manila.
“Wala akong alam sa sinasabing provisional understanding. Wala silang pakialam kung ano ang gawin natin sa teritoryo natin,” Teodoro told reporters in an interview in Makati City.
(I don't know about the provisional understanding that they mentioned. They have no right to interfere with what we do in our territory.)
The statement came after Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan claimed that there was construction activity aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, which he alleged was a violation of a supposed provisional understanding on Ayungin Shoal.
Jing added that this prompted China to deploy a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to approach and circle the grounded Philippine vessel, which led to a confrontation between Philippine Navy personnel and China Coast Guard personnel on Monday, July 20.
Teodoro rejected the claim, saying China failed to provide proof and accused Beijing of fabricating narratives to justify its actions.
“Hindi niya mapapatunayan ‘yun. Pinasukan nila ang isang lugar, so nangingimbento na naman sila. Inimbento nila ang engkwentro eh. Ini-splice nila. Paano pa tayo maniniwala sa sinasabi niyan?” the defense chief said.
He then continued, “Hindi nila dapat pakialaman ‘yun. Pangalawa, wala silang karapatan talaga na nandodoon sila. Walang hiya talaga, eh! Hindi na ako dapat magpigil, eh. Galit na ang taumbayan. Lantaran na ito, eh. Inuunggoy na tayo.”
MARCOS CONVEYED ‘COLLECTIVE ANGER’ OF FILIPINOS
When President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned Jing to Malacanang on Tuesday, the president conveyed the “collective anger” of Filipinos over the confrontation in Ayungin Shoal, which left two Filipino soldiers injured, according to Teodoro.
The defense chief said Marcos, despite maintaining a diplomatic approach, firmly defended Philippine rights and sovereignty during his meeting with the Chinese envoy.
“The president stated in no uncertain terms to the Chinese Ambassador the collective anger of the Filipino people over that unjustifiable incident,” Teodoro said.
He also criticized Jing for publicly disclosing the meeting despite what he said was an agreement not to disclose its contents.
“I believe there was an agreement to embargo the contents of the conversation, but the Chinese Ambassador was the first to violate that embargo by having that ambush interview right after the talk… I must call that out,” the secretary added.
‘NANG-IMBENTO NA NAMAN SILA’
Teodoro rejected the characterization that the latest confrontation in Ayungin Shoal was an escalation, saying it was part of China’s broader strategic objective in the region.
“No, it is not an escalation. It is part of a design to control the Pacific Ocean. All of us that form a barrier—ito ay disenyo na kontrolin nila ang Pacific Ocean. Tayo ay hadlang. Ang Japan at Taiwan ay hadlang. Papaano natin mapapatunayan ito? Bakit sila nagpabagsak ng missile sa Pacific Ocean? Signal na iyon na ‘gusto namin kayo,’” Teodoro said.
The defense chief said the Philippines must remain firm in defending its rights as an archipelagic nation.
“Dapat handa tayo rito. Dapat matatag tayo dito kung ipaglalaban natin ang dignidad at karapatan natin bilang isang bansa na archipelagic,” he noted.
He went on, “Gusto nilang kontrolin ang area. Nangingimbento ‘yan ng violation. Gumagawa talaga ng paraan ang mga ‘yan kung paano ka pasukin. ‘Yan ang dapat malaman ng ating mga kababayan. May intensyon ‘yan. Hindi titigil ‘yan. Nasa atin na na sugpuin ‘yan at itigil.”
While emphasizing the importance of dialogue with China, Teodoro said negotiations must be grounded on international law and backed by a credible defense posture.
He cited Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro’s earlier statement that any agreement must be based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.
“Pakikipag-usap, oo. Pero kailangan handa kang huwag malamangan sa pakikipag-usap. Kaya ako hindi nakikipag-usap, walang mapapala, eh. Pero ang diplomasya, kailangang nandiyan palagi. Pero ang diplomasya nila, kailangang handa rin tayo kasi iba ang diplomasya nila, eh,” Teodoro stressed.
PGC calls China Coast Guard attempt to block medevac 'act of barbarism'
"Hindi nangangahulugan na kinukumpirma ko ang isang bagay o hindi kasi nilalagyan nila ng salita ang bibig natin, eh… Ang sinasabi ko, wala silang pakialam," he also said.
(That doesn't mean I am confirming something or not, because they tend to put words in our mouth. What I am saying is that they have no right.)
The comments come after an incident near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea where a China Coast Guard personnel hit a Philippine Navy sailor on the head with a wooden baton.
The navy said a CCG rigid-hull inflatable boat unlawfully approached within close range of the BRP Sierra Madre, which is grounded on Ayungin Shoal, prompting the deployment of two Philippine military boats to "calmly and non-confrontationally" drive it away.
"The CCG personnel reacted violently and aggressively" to that, the navy also said.