00:00 The resupply mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
00:04 in the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin, Sur, was a successful one.
00:07 This time, it was done in spite of the barrage of several Chinese ships.
00:12 Bea Bernard has more.
00:14 This Monday, the two Philippine Coast Guard ships,
00:20 the BRP Cabra and the BRP Sindangan, headed for Ayungin, Sur,
00:25 when 17 Chinese maritime militia vessels hit two ships.
00:30 The Philippine Coast Guard sent a radio challenge, but China did not respond.
00:35 This is the Philippine Coast Guard vessel, BRP Sindangan, MRRB 4407.
00:42 You are sailing with a Philippine-exclusive economic zone.
00:46 What is your intention? Over.
00:48 In the middle of the night, the two chartered boats of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
00:53 that had supplies were sent by the four Philippine ships to Ayungin, Sur.
00:59 When the sun rose, the Philippine Coast Guard noticed the presence of the China Coast Guard around.
01:05 We're two hours away from Ayungin, Sur so far.
01:09 The two resupply boats, the BRP Cabra and the Philippine Coast Guard,
01:13 and the BRP Sindangan, are in the middle of the night.
01:15 So far, all three Chinese vessels have sailed around Ayungin, Sur.
01:21 It seems that the Philippine and Chinese ships were patrolling the sea.
01:24 Several times, the Chinese ships circled the BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan
01:29 while the two ships continued to respond to the radio challenges.
01:34 This is the Philippine Coast Guard vessel, BRP Sindangan, MRRB 4407.
01:41 In accordance with international and Philippine national laws,
01:45 you are within the Philippine-exclusive economic zone.
01:48 Your actions will affect the Philippine-China relations
01:52 and will be reported to concerned authorities. Over.
01:55 After several hours of following the Chinese ships,
01:59 the two charter boats of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were able to enter Ayungin, Sur,
02:04 of course, with the help of the Philippine Coast Guard.
02:07 The charter boats reached the sea around 9 a.m.
02:11 But the BRP Sindangan was the only one able to reach them
02:14 because the two ships of the China Coast Guard, the BRP Cabra, were blocked.
02:19 Supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre were delayed for almost three hours
02:22 and the two Philippine ships did not leave here.
02:26 According to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore J. Tariella,
02:30 they noticed two things in the action of China in the resupply mission.
02:35 First, the water cannon was not used again to stop our ship.
02:39 Second, instead of using a large ship, which China usually uses to harass our ships,
02:45 they used a smaller ship.
02:48 For some security scholars, they were saying that it's because of the maneuverability of these smaller vessels
02:55 to intercept our supply boats.
02:58 But for us, we tend to recognize it as a way to counter a much better offtick.
03:08 As for the AFP, they supported the success of the resupply mission.
03:12 Here, they will see the country's unity towards the right path.
03:17 What we are actually promoting here is not just our sovereign rights,
03:22 but of course the implementation of a very important convention,
03:26 which is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
03:29 Again, PCG stated that the Philippines does not need to explain
03:33 what supplies they are bringing to the BRP Sierra Madre.
03:37 It is clear that the UNCLOS that is currently in effect is inside the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone,
03:42 meaning that the Philippines has jurisdiction and has the right to its part of the ocean.
03:48 Bea Bernardo for the nation.
