DFA tells China anew: Return firearms, compensate PH for Ayungin clash

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro (PNA file photo by Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)

MANILA — The Philippine government is demanding anew that China compensate for the damage caused by the China Coast Guard to Filipino assets in the June 2024 Ayungin incident.

“[T]he Philippines reiterates its demand to China for compensation for the damage caused to Philippine vessels and equipment on 17 June 2024, as well as the return of its firearms and equipment, and the personal effects of its personnel that were illegally seized on that date,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, in a statement sent through Malacañang, Friday.

The move came on the heels of the collision between two Chinese vessels in the Bajo de Masinloc, which Beijing blamed on Manila.

The incident on June 17 involved the Chinese Coast Guard obstructing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) humanitarian rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) at Ayungin Shoal, severing a Filipino soldier’s finger.

In an Inquirer report on June 19, 2024, at least eight Philippine Navy sailors were injured after Chinese vessels sought to drive away their vessels on a rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

The troops, including one whose finger got cut off, were wounded during a confrontation with Chinese forces that rammed and towed their rigid hull inflatable boats as they tried to reach the grounded warship BRP Sierra Madre.

Chinese troops also seized the firearms of the Navy when they boarded one of the inflatable boats. This marked the first time that China boarded a Philippine boat and conducted a search.

Compensation

The AFP earlier said it would ask for P60 million in compensation from China.

Before the signing of a temporary arrangement on Ayungin Shoal last year, the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the AFP’s demand at a press briefing. /apl/abc