The Provincial Government of Palawan passed a resolution during the 117th Regular Session of the Provincial Board supporting the protest of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) against China on the Ayungin Shoal incident.
Resolution No. 404-21 titled, “Resolution expressing utmost support to the Department of Foreign (DFA) in its protest and condemnation of the atrocious conduct of the Chinese Coast Guard towards the Philippine supply boats in Ayuning Shoal,” was authored by Board Member Juan Antonio Alvarez and was passed on November 23, 2021.
Board Member Alvarez said that China does not have any rights to block, water cannon, and ask Philippine vessels to leave since it is within the territorial waters of the country.
On November 16, three Chinese Coast Guard vessels stopped and water-cannoned two Philippine supply boats en route to Ayungin Shoal to bring food supplies to the Philippine military personnel stationed there.
“First of all, what right do they have to ask our fellowmen to leave or water bomb them when it is ours in the first place, it’s our territory. For me, what they did was disrespectful and unjust, that is why it is only right that we react and protest,” Alvarez said in Filipino.
He also added that the resolution is part of the continuous efforts to fight for the rights not only of the Palaweños but also of the Filipinos against the wrongful activities they are doing within the country’s EEZ.
During the ASEAN-China Special Summit on November 23, President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his disdain for the incident. He also stated that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ruled in favor of the Philippines during the South China Sea Arbitration and they should honor it to maintain “peace, stability and prosperity” in the West Philippine Sea.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also denied what China said on the matter on November 24 that the Philippine government should “honor its commitment” and remove BRP Sierra Madre there.
“As far as I know there is no such commitment. That ship has been there since 1999. If there was (a) commitment it would have been removed a long time ago,” Lorenzana said.
He also said that “China has no historic nor legal bases” and they are actually “trespassing” by being within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
The Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal is part of the Kalayaan Island Group and is located about 105 nautical miles from the Province of Palawan and is within the 200 nautical miles of the Philippines’ EEZ.