PH rejects China call to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin

The Philippines will not retreat from Ayungin Shoal, following China’s demand to remove the BRP Sierra Madre because it was damaging the marine environment.

Philippine Navy Spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters that Manila will not abandon the BRP Sierra Madre regardless of China’s demands.

“We will not give up that ship. It symbolizes the government’s resolute stance. The AFP is mandated to ensure the integrity of the national territory,” declared Trinidad.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains committed to safeguarding Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights in the WPS. They will continue rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, he said.

Trinidad also cautioned the public about false narratives spread by foreign countries, specifically the Chinese Communist Party.

“Last week, the AFP Chief issued a statement warning everyone about foreign malign influence and false narratives being disseminated by the Chinese Communist Party,” he said.

China alleges the BRP Sierra Madre is “illegally grounded” at Ayungin Shoal and harms the marine environment.

“We urge the Philippines to remove the illegally grounded warship at Ren’ai Jiao to stop damaging the ecosystem at Ren’ai Jiao,” asserted Chinese Spokesperson Lin Jian during a press conference.

Philippine warships and related activities were “primarily responsible for the damage to Ayungin Shoal’s coral reef ecosystem,” he quoted a report by its own “independent” third-party research institute, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources.

Linn Jian said China takes environmental damage “seriously” and has taken measures to address it.

“As I mentioned earlier, China places great importance on protecting the coral reef system of the Nansha Islands and the surrounding marine environment of its islands and reefs. We have taken effective measures in this regard,” he stressed.

“The report clearly states that the Philippines’ illegally grounded military vessel and relevant human activities are primarily responsible for the damage to Ren’ai Jiao’s coral reef ecosystem,” Lin Jian added.

However, the 2016 arbitral award ruled against these claims. Former Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, who represented the Philippines in the landmark case, declared in a forum that China’s land reclamation and construction activities had “permanently destroyed evidence of the natural condition” of several reefs in the South China Sea.

“The arbitral court already acknowledged the irreparable harm China caused to the coral reef system. We have nothing left to prove,” Jardeleza stated.

Jardeleza emphasized the importance of learning from the 2012 Scarborough Shoal incident, where the Philippines unilaterally withdrew its vessels. He urged the government to continue protecting the BRP Sierra Madre and resist China’s pressure to withdraw.