US Embassy condemns Chinese interference of PH RoRe mission to Ayungin Shoal

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The United States rallied behind the Philippines and condemned China for interfering with the Philippine rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission to Ayungin Shoal earlier this week.

In a statement on Sunday, US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton described the maneuvers by the China Coast Guard and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as “dangerous” and “irresponsible.”

“The United States strongly condemns the use of dangerous blocking and other irresponsible maneuvers by the China Coast Guard and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) that threatened a collision with a Philippine vessel and prevented a lawful and routine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal on September 24,” Lipton said.

“We stand by our Philippine Allies and laud their professionalism and restraint. We call on the China Coast Guard and PLAN to cease the use of escalatory tactics that threaten the freedom of navigation and a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he added.

On Thursday, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) reported that the task force said China Coast Guard (CCG) and People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) hindered the delivery of essential supplies to the Filipino crew aboard BRP Sierra Madre.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said three PLAN warships and five CCG vessels, including two (2) Houbei-class missile boats, interfered with the mission.

“While still approximately 60 nautical miles from Ayungin Shoal, M/V Lapu-Lapu and three (3) Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard support vessels were hindered by the PLAN and CCG vessels,” the AFP said.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the planned rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission to Ayungin Shoal was discontinued at 11:08 p.m. for the safety of its personnel.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago, including the Luzon Sea and the waters around, within, and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

Beijing has refused to recognize the decision. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA News