After Talking With Chinese Ambassador, Philippines Continues Logistics Ship Mission For Military In South China Sea

JAKARTA - The Philippine Secretary of Defense's supply mission for the military stationed on atolls in the South China Sea region will resume this week after being canceled last week because it was blocked by the Chinese coast guard.

Minister Lorenzana said he had instructed the military to send back its supply ships to the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal, saying China would not intervene this time.

Last Thursday, the Philippines condemned "in the strongest terms" the actions of three Chinese coast guard vessels that it said blocked and used water cannon on supply ships bound for the Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as the Ayungin Shoal.

Meanwhile, the United States called China's actions "dangerous, provocative and unjustified," warning an armed attack on a Philippine ship would trigger a joint US defense commitment.

"China will not interfere based on my conversation with the Chinese Ambassador (Huang Xilian)," Minister Lorenzana said, quoted by Reuters on November 23,

Lorenzana said she and Ambassador Huang had spoken "from the night of the 16th when the incident occurred until yesterday, November 20th". The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

There will be no naval or coast guard escort for Philippine logistics vessels when they sail back to the Second Thomas Shoal, Minister Lorenzana said.

"They (China) have no right to obstruct, prevent or interfere with our vessels in our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), whether we are fishing or bringing supplies to our detachment in Sierra Madre (naval vessels) in Ayungin Shoal," he explained.

Meanwhile, the head of the Philippine military's Western Command, Vice Admiral Ramil Roberto Enriquez, said the number of Chinese coast guard vessels in the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea had decreased to two on Saturday evening from three on Tuesday.

He said Chinese maritime militia ships had also left the area. China denies operating militias.

To note, there were 19 vessels near the recent Second Thomas Shoal and 45 near Thitu Island, another Philippine-occupied area, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon.