PINABULAANAN ng National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) ang sinabi ng Tsina na pinayagan nito ang Pilipinas sa resupply mission sa outpost nito sa Ayungin Shoal.

Pinasinungalingan ng task force sa isang kalatas ang sinabi ng Tsina na ininspeksyon nito ang supplies na dala ng Philippine military para matiyak na humanitarian necessities lamang ang karga patungong BRP Sierra Madre.

“To clarify, the Philippines did not and will never seek permission from the PRC to conduct resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal,” ayon sa task force.

“There was also no boarding and inspection by the Chinese Coast Guard as claimed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in its statement yesterday (Saturday),”sinabi pa rin ng task force.

Ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), may suporta ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), ay matagumpay na naisagawa ang rotation and reprovisioning (RORE) mission sa nakasadsad na BRP Sierra Madre sa loob ng exclusive economic zone nito.

Ginamit ng AFP ang civilian vessel ML Lapu-Lapu at sinamahan ng PCG vessel BRP Cape Engaño.

Tinuran ng NTF-WPS na ang Chinese maritime forces, kabilang ang 9 na vessels, ay nasa bisinidad at inobserbahan ang mga operasyon.

“They maintained their distance and did not undertake any action to disrupt the RORE,” ayon sa NTF-WPS.

Sa ulat, ito ang kauna-unahang resupply mission ng Pilipinas at Beijing matapos na umabot sa provisional agreement sa pagsasagawa ng resupply missions.

Paglilinaw ng task force, ang “provisional understanding” with China is meant “for the simple reason of de-escalating tensions and preventing misunderstanding and miscalculations at sea.” (CHRISTIAN DALE)