(UPDATES) THE Philippine government on Friday said that the June 17 incident involving Chinese and Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal, which resulted in injuries to a Filipino soldier, was a "misunderstanding or accident."
In a press conference, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said what happened at Ayungin was not an armed attack.
"No, this was probably a misunderstanding or accident. We are not yet ready to classify this as an armed attack," Bersamin said.
"Mga nakita namin (what we saw were) bolo, axe, and nothing beyond that," he said.
Footage released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showed China Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia vessels surrounding a Philippine supply boat on its way to Ayungin, where the derelict Philippine Navy ship Sierra Madre serves as a military outpost.
There were clips of Chinese coast guardsmen firing tear gas, brandishing knives, and destroying equipment after they boarded the supply boat.
Bersamin said the government was not considering taking the matter to a higher international body, saying it could be resolved soon.
"That's not yet into consideration because I think this is a matter that can easily be resolved very soon by us, and if China wants to work with us, we can. We'll work with China," he said.
Bersamin led the second meeting of the National Maritime Council (NMC) in Malacañang on Friday.
The meeting, which was organized by the Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns (POMC) headed by Secretary Andres Centino, discussed China's recent hostile acts in the West Philippine Sea.
Bersamin said the council agreed on policy recommendations for the President's consideration.
The council will draw up the Implementing Guidelines for the executive order, which seeks to clarify and streamline coordination with the National Maritime Center and the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea (UP Imlos).
Bersamin said the council "recognizes a peaceful, stable, and prosperous West Philippine Sea, and South China Sea is still a distant reality."
"The maritime challenges of the Philippines do not only concern the defense and foreign affairs institutions. They also affect different sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, environment, energy, local governance, transportation, and justice," he said.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (center) holds a press conference at the New Executive Building in Malacañang on June 21, 2024, regarding the latest clash between Philippine and Chinese vessels at Ayungin Shoal. In a statement, Bersamin said the encounter where several Philippine Navy personnel were injured, including one who lost his finger, was a 'misunderstanding.' PPA POOL/ KJ ROSALES Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (center) holds a press conference at the New Executive Building in Malacañang on June 21, 2024, regarding the latest clash between Philippine and Chinese vessels at Ayungin Shoal. In a statement, Bersamin said the encounter where several Philippine Navy personnel were injured, including one who lost his finger, was a 'misunderstanding.' PPA POOL/ KJ ROSALES Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (center) holds a press conference at the New Executive Building in Malacañang on June 21, 2024, regarding the latest clash between Philippine and Chinese vessels at Ayungin Shoal. In a statement, Bersamin said the encounter where several Philippine Navy personnel were injured, including one who lost his finger, was a 'misunderstanding.' PPA POOL/ KJ ROSALES Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (center) holds a press conference at the New Executive Building in Malacañang on June 21, 2024, regarding the latest clash between Philippine and Chinese vessels at Ayungin Shoal. In a statement, Bersamin said the encounter where several Philippine Navy personnel were injured, including one who lost his finger, was a 'misunderstanding.' PPA POOL/ KJ ROSALES Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (center) holds a press conference at the New Executive Building in Malacañang on June 21, 2024, regarding the latest clash between Philippine and Chinese vessels at Ayungin Shoal. In a statement, Bersamin said the encounter where several Philippine Navy personnel were injured, including one who lost his finger, was a 'misunderstanding.' PPA POOL/ KJ ROSALES
"Therefore, managing maritime concerns requires a comprehensive approach and an effective cooperation among various government agencies," he added.
Centino said that invoking the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States is not being considered at this time.
He said there was only one Filipino soldier who was injured in the scuffle.
"Your question about the invocation of the mutual defense treaty, that has not been considered in our discussions," he said.
Centino said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was "composed" when he learned about the incident and asked concerned Cabinet members to discuss the matter with him.
In April, Marcos said the Philippines would invoke the treaty in the event a Filipino soldier died during a confrontation in the West Philippine Sea.
Under the treaty, each party "recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes."
On Thursday, China once again warned the Philippines to cease acts of "infringement and provocation" at sea or face the consequences.
"China will firmly safeguard its lawful rights and interests. We urge the Philippines to stop infringement and provocation at sea at once. Otherwise, the Philippines shall bear the consequences," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said during his regular press conference in Beijing.
Beijing insists the CCG did not take direct action on the Philippine boat that was trying to deliver provisions to the soldiers on the Sierra Madre.
Lin accused the Philippines of presenting a false account of the June 17 incident.
China insists Ayungin is part of its territory, referring to it as Ren'ai Jiao.
The spokesman said the Philippine vessels sailed into Ayungin without China's permission, which violates international law and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
"This is sheer provocation and has no justification whatsoever. Moreover, this operation of the Philippines is not about "humanitarian resupply," Lin said.
The Philippine vessels secretly carried construction materials and even weapons and equipment, and "deliberately rammed Chinese vessels," he added.
On March 23, China issued a similar warning following another resupply mission to Ayungin, saying that the Philippines "should be prepared to bear all potential consequences" if it "insists on going its way."
The Sierra Madre was intentionally beached in 1999 to prevent China from taking control of Ayungin, which is 120 nautical miles from Palawan and well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Since last year, confrontations between Philippine and Chinese ships during resupply missions to the Ayungin Shoal have increased dramatically.
In Feb. 6, 2023, a China Coast Guard vessel aimed a laser at the Philippine Coast Guard ship Malapascua as it approached Ayungin.
On October 2 of that year, a CCG ship rammed another Ayungin-bound supply boat.
In another incident, the CCG fired water cannons at supply boats.
The confrontations continued through this year. On June 4, 2024, the CCG seized food airdropped to Filipino soldiers on the Sierra Madre.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has filed numerous protests against China's illegal and aggressive actions.
Several business groups, including the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex), the Makati Business Club and the Institute of Corporate Directors, have joined the government in condemning the "continued harassment" of China in the West Philippine Sea.
The groups also appealed for "non-violent resolution" that respects the country's rights as a "peace-loving nation."
"Since we need peace and security in building a stronger and more progressive Philippines, we call for a whole-of-nation approach in addressing the current threats to our national sovereignty and security," the groups said Friday.
On Thursday, Sen. Imee Marcos introduced Senate Resolution (SR) 1055 calling for a Senate inquiry into the June 17 incident in Ayungin.
In her proposal of SR 1055, Marcos underscored the need to look deeper into the incident "to determine how the government can enhance the protection of Filipino servicemen and citizens during rotation and resupply missions to the Ayungin Shoal, and to identify the changes that should be implemented in the current strategies of the Philippine Government to enable the country to assert its sovereign rights more effectively and safely."
She underscored that the Constitution renounces war as an instrument of national policy and adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land.
In a related development, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced on Thursday that a missile-capable warship will be built in South Korea for the AFP.
Teodoro said the missile corvette that will be constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) will be named BRP Miguel Malvar, after the Philippine revolutionary general and hero.
It is the first of two corvettes ordered by the Philippine Navy in 2021.
The first corvette is expected to be delivered in 2025 and the second in 2026.
So far, the Philippine Navy has two Korean-built ships in its fleet: the Jose Rizal-class frigates Jose Rizal and Antonio Luna.
Mrs. Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro, special envoy to the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), led the ceremonial launching of the future Miguel Malvar.
Lee Sang Kyun, CEO of HHI, was also in attendance.
In his speech, Teodoro stressed the department's commitment to partnering with companies from countries that align strategically with the Philippines, such as South Korea.
He cited the proven quality and reliability of South Korean products, and noted that future acquisitions would adhere to the AFP's Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).
Unveiled by Teodoro last month, the CADC fast-tracks the fortification of maritime outposts.
Teodoro said the key considerations for the military's acquisition program include supply chain reliability, redundancy, corporate good governance, and the overall value for money.
He expressed his desire to instill the Korean value of "Indomitable Spirit" or "bulguleui jeongsin" within the AFP.
"This value, characterized by standing up for what is right and showing unwavering resilience, has been pivotal in the progress and prosperity of South Korea," Teodoro said.
He believes it can similarly inspire the Philippines to reach its full potential.
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