Teodoro: China’s ‘dangerous, reckless’ behavior to be resisted by AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will resist China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “dangerous and reckless” behavior off Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

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

In response, the AFP did not confirm or deny that such an incident happened, saying they would not dignify what they branded as “deceptive and misleading”.

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

“China’s dangerous and reckless behavior in the West Philippine Sea shall be resisted by the AFP,” Teodoro said in a statement.

Teodoro further said, “We will exert our utmost in order to fulfill our sworn mandate to protect our territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights.”

The Defense chief said that the behavior shows that Beijing’s actions prevent the attainment of peace and stability in the South China Sea.

“Their behavior contravenes their statements of good faith and decency,” Teodoro said.

“It should now be clear to the international community that China’s actions are the true obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he added.

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 which even injured Philippine navy personnel at one point.

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.