Año: China vessels ‘engaged in ramming, towing’ during Ayungin resupply

MANILA, Philippines — China towed one of the Philippine vessels during the latest resupply mission in the BRP Sierra Madre grounded in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on Monday, according to National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.

“The People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N), China Coast Guard (CCG), and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels engaged in dangerous maneuvers, including ramming and towing,” Año said in a statement.

After “solemn warning” was ignored, the CCG said in a statement that its vessel took “control measures” against the Filipino resupply boat for entering the waters off Ayungin Shoal at 5:59 a.m., causing a collision between the two.

READ: AFP: China’s account on Ayungin incident ‘deceptive, misleading’

Año said CCG’s actions “put at risk the lives of our personnel and damaged our boats,” but he did not elaborate further.

For his part, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the oftrepated accusation of bringing construction materials for the naval outpost as the reason for what he deemed as “necessary” measure.

READ: China Coast Guard seizes PH supplies for Ayungin

Lin on Monday said one supply vessel and two speed boats entered the shoal “in an attempt to send materials, including construction materials.”

“China Coast Guard took necessary control measures to stop the Philippine vessels,” he said.

The regular resupply mission in the BRP Sierra Madre grounded in Ayungin has become one of the flashpoints of tension in the West Philippine Sea, as Chinese vessels resorted to the usage of water cannons during previous missions.

Beijing asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling from a case filed by Manila in 2013.