THE PHILIPPINES denied on Monday that China had a “temporary special arrangement” with Manila to allow the delivery of supplies to Philippine troops occupying a disputed South China Sea reef, calling it “a figment of imagination.”
The Chinese Coast Guard said on Saturday it had temporarily allowed the Philippines to provide food and water to soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, a vessel grounded in 1999 at the Second Thomas Shoal, 190 km off Palawan, to assert Manila’s territorial claims.
“This is a figment of the imagination of the Chinese Coast Guard. There is no truth to this,” National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya told state-run broadcaster PTV-4.
The Chinese Coast Guard said the Philippines air-dropped supplies to the navy vessel on Jan. 21. Mr. Malaya did not confirm nor deny the airdrop but said supplying troops was his country’s right.
“We do not need to get the permission of anyone, including the Chinese coastguard, when we bring supplies through whatever means, whether by ship or air,” Mr. Malaya said.
The Philippines’ occupation of the shoal has irked Beijing and has been a flashpoint in recent disputes between them, which have intensified under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has sought stronger ties with the US military.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion (about P1.69 trillion) in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, some of which have competing claims to various islands and reefs.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague said China’s claims had no legal basis, a decision Beijing has rejected.
Last weekend, top officials of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) inspected its two farthest naval detachments — the ones on Basco and Mavulis islands in the Batanes Group of Islands — to ensure their readiness to respond to any territorial defense situation in the northernmost tip of the country.
Lt. Gen. Fernyl G. Buca led the inspection, along with other Nolcom officials and Baliktatan 39-2024 planners with the aim of reviewing operational procedures to strengthen the defense posture in the Nolcom’s Joint Operational Area.
The two naval detachments are responsible for securing and controlling the Luzon Strait, which includes the Balintang and Bashi Channels. Major Al Pueblas, commander of Nolcom’s Civil Relations Group (CRG), stressed the Batanes area’s strategic importance as a chokepoint for naval and air traffic, influencing forces for strategic advantage.
In October last year, officials inaugurated the Naval Detachment in Mavulis Island which bolsters the Philippines’ defense and strategic security capabilities in Northern Luzon. It plays a pivotal role in safeguarding Philippine territory, sovereignty, and sovereign rights to protect maritime borders and interests.
Mr. Buca cited the dedication of the 14-man team from the Philippine Navy (Marines) and Civilian Active Auxiliary deployed at the detachment. In turn, Marine Sergeant Harley Calicaran expressed gratitude for their commanders’ visit which has boosted their morale.
The weekend visit also demonstrates the Nolcom’s commitment to national defense and security, part of the transitional phase toward territorial defense operations and a site inspection for the upcoming Balikatan Exercises 39–24, the largest bilateral military exercise with the United States military. — Reuters with a report from Artemio A. Dumlao
