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MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday rejected China’s claim that it had approved the latest Philippine resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, stressing that Manila does not need Beijing’s permission to carry out military operations in the West Philippine Sea.
“Who believes them? Each time they invent a new narrative,” AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“We need not seek the clearance nor the approval of any foreign power to perform our mandate,” he added.
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READ: Teodoro: Ayungin resupply to push through despite China interference
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In a statement published on China’s Ministry of National Defense website on Wednesday, China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson Jiang Lue claimed that Beijing had permitted the Philippines to deliver supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, which China calls Ren’ai Jiao.
Jiang also claimed that the CCG had questioned and verified the Philippine vessel involved in the delivery and monitored the entire operation.
“On October 21, with China’s permission, the Philippines transported supplies to its vessel illegally grounded on Ren’ai Reef,” the CCG statement read. “The China Coast Guard questioned and confirmed the incident with the Philippine vessel and monitored the entire process.”
Trinidad confirmed that the AFP successfully completed the rotation and reprovisioning (RoRe) mission but declined to disclose whether Chinese vessels had attempted to interfere with the operation.
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“It was successfully concluded,” he said when pressed on possible Chinese interference.
The latest mission followed an unsuccessful resupply attempt in September, when Philippine forces suspended their operation over safety concerns amid the presence of Chinese vessels.
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READ: AFP mission aborted due to Chinese ships
Asked what had changed between the two missions, Trinidad replied: “Last September, hindi natuloy. This time natuloy (Last September, it did not push through. This time, it did).”
He declined to elaborate, citing operational considerations.
Trinidad also accused Beijing of repeatedly inventing narratives to justify its territorial and maritime claims, citing its assertions over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and Batanes.
“Nag-i-imbento lamang sila ng naratibo at wala namang naniniwala sa kanila (They are merely inventing narratives, and nobody believes them),” he said.
“Wag tayo mabigla, baka pati Pluto e angkinin na rin nila (Don’t be surprised if they eventually claim even Pluto),” he quipped.
“These type of narratives, consider them as inventions and they are jokes, laugh at them,” Trinidad added.
He stressed that the military would continue conducting resupply missions, maritime patrols and surveillance flights regardless of China’s objections.
“Let this be very clear, the AFP will keep performing its mandate not only doing the RoRe but our MDA flights, our maritime patrols, our air surveillance flights. This will continue long into the future,” he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has maintained that the provisional understanding reached by Manila and Beijing in July 2024 for resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal does not require Chinese permission.
During a House budget hearing in September, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro clarified that the arrangement involved only an exchange of information between the two countries.
Ayungin Shoal, located about 194 kilometers west of Palawan, lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. It is where the grounded BRP Sierra Madre serves as a military outpost.
The latest mission came nearly a month after the AFP aborted a resupply operation to the BRP Sierra Madre in September over safety concerns amid the presence of Chinese coast guard, navy and maritime militia vessels.
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During that mission, Philippine forces encountered Chinese vessels farther from Ayungin Shoal than in previous operations, prompting the military to suspend the attempt rather than risk the safety of its personnel. /dl
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