DFA chief: Why would we notify China about Ayungin resupply missions?

MANILA, Philippines — A single question was all it took for Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to demolish China’s pronouncement that the Philippines should “notify” them “in advance” when conducting resupply missions to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin.

“Why would we notify?” Manalo simply told reporters in an ambush interview on Monday.

China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning earlier said if the “Philippines notifies the Chinese side in advance, [they] can allow delivery of living necessities to the grounded warship or evacuation of personnel concerned.”

Mao’s remarks justified China’s blocking and ramming of Philippine boats on a medical evacuation in the West Philippine Sea last May 19.

On that day, China Coast Guard personnel intercepted one of the four packages airdropped by a military aircraft for BRP Sierra Madre due to China’s suspicions of the packages carrying construction materials for the grounded naval outpost.

READ: China has ‘zero common sense’ over actions during Ayungin airdrop—PH Navy

Prior to the foreign affairs chief’s question, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año already made clear that the Philippines will never ask for China’s approval to have an unhampered movement to Ayungin Shoal.

“We do not and will never need China’s approval for any of our activities therein,” Año emphasized.

READ: DFA to China: Remove illegal structures, cease reclamations

Despite China’s continued claim, Ayungin Shoal sits well within Philippine territory.

“Ayungin Shoal is 423.30 nautical miles from the Paracels, and 617.39 nautical miles from the Chinese mainland — clearly beyond the 200 nautical miles maximum maritime entitlement for an exclusive economic zone under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said.

“China cannot, therefore, lawfully exercise sovereignty over it,” it added.