By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) rejected the Chinese Embassy’s latest claims regarding the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, saying no binding commitment was made to remove the grounded Philippine Navy vessel from the disputed feature.
In a statement Saturday, AFP Spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad (Ret.) said Beijing was attempting to “rewrite history” while overlooking what the military described as China’s own record of deceptive narratives in the West Philippine Sea.
Trinidad said, “The AFP rejects the recent statement from the Chinese Embassy in Manila attempting to rewrite history regarding the presence of the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.”
He pointed to China’s occupation of Panganiban Reef, internationally known as Mischief Reef, in 1995.
China had initially described structures built on the feature as shelters for fishermen and said they had no military purpose, Trinidad said.
The structures have since been transformed into a large military installation with an airstrip, radar facilities and naval infrastructure.
He added, “Mischief Reef stands as a permanent, concrete monument to their deceptive strategy in the West Philippine Sea.”
Trinidad maintained that the presence of the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal is a lawful sovereign deployment.
The Philippine Navy deliberately grounded the World War II-era landing ship on Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to serve as a military outpost.
China has repeatedly demanded the removal of the vessel and claimed the Philippines had made commitments to do so, an assertion Manila has consistently denied.
“No binding commitment was made to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal,” Trinidad said.
He cited the 2016 arbitral award, which ruled that Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The arbitral tribunal also ruled that China’s sweeping claims to historic rights within the nine-dash line have no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“The AFP remains firm in executing its mandate to protect Philippine national sovereignty, uphold international law, and maintain our presence on Ayungin Shoal,” Trinidad said.
“We will never abandon BRP Sierra Madre.”
Another PH, Japan deal in force
The statement came as Manila continues to deepen security cooperation with allies and partners.
Also on Saturday, the Department of National Defense welcomed the entry into force of the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between the Philippines and Japan.
The agreement, signed in January, establishes a framework for the efficient and coordinated provision of supplies and services between the AFP and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.
The DND said the ACSA would strengthen bilateral activities, including joint exercises and humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.
The agreement is part of the practical implementation of the Philippines and Japan’s comprehensive strategic partnership, which seeks to deepen cooperation based on mutual trust and support for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
It follows the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which sets the legal framework for joint military training, disaster response, and defense cooperation. (with reports from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
