Senate demands comprehensive briefing of Foreign Ministry on recent incident at Ayungin Reef

The Senate will seek a “comprehensive briefing” from the US Department of State (DFA) on the recent incident between Philippine troops and members of the Chinese coast guard in the Ayungin Reef, in which seven Filipinos were injured, Senate President Francis Escudero said on Thursday.

In a statement, Escudero expressed concern over escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“The escalation of tensions in the West Philippine Sea is alarming and the Senate will seek a full briefing from the DFA on the recent incident and the efforts being made to resolve the issue,” he said.

Until the briefing, Escudero reiterated his call for dialogue between Filipino and Chinese politicians to prevent further escalation of tensions in the region.

He also said the State Department should “go beyond lodging diplomatic protests at every incident and explore all means to engage in meaningful dialogue with its counterparts in Beijing with the goal of avoiding further escalation without giving up our rights and privileges vis-à-vis them in the territory we claim.”

Escudero also called on the Philippine military to “explore alternative methods” to deliver supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded ship that serves as a base for the Philippines in the Ayungin Reef.

This will ensure that Philippine troops receive supplies “while minimizing risks and achieving our desired objectives.”

The AFP confirmed last Tuesday that a member of the Philippine Navy suffered “serious injuries” following a collision between a Chinese vessel and a Philippine vessel conducting a rotation and replenishment (RORE) mission at Ayungin Shoal in the WPS. It was later revealed that the soldier lost a thumb in the incident.

The Philippines – through its Foreign Ministry – and the United States have denounced the incident.

The Ayungin Reef, which China calls Ren’ai Reef, lies 105 nautical miles west of Palawan, within the country’s 200-mile-wide exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is part of its continental shelf.

READ: EXPLAINER: What is the Ayungin Reef and why is it important?

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, which handles more than $3 trillion worth of maritime trade annually, including parts also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

The Philippine government sued China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2013. In July 2016, the court ruled in favor of the Philippines and rejected China’s claim to nine stripes in the South China Sea.

In the same decision, the PCA declared that Ayungin Reef, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, the Spratly Islands, Panganiban or Mischief Reef, and Recto or Reed Bank are within the Philippine EEZ. Scarborough Reef, on the other hand, was classified as a joint fishery area.

However, Beijing does not recognize the verdict. —KBK, GMA Integrated Messages