PH rejects China's claim over Ayungin medical evacuation mission | Midday Report

[00:00:00]The National Task Force [music] for the West Philippine Sea has strongly denied China's claim that it authorized the medical evacuation of the injured AFP servicemen [music] at Ayungin Shoal. The task force says the operation was carried out by Philippine authorities despite [music] alleged interference from the Chinese Coast Guard. Leigh Cabagungan is on the [music] line for the latest. Leigh?

[00:00:25]>> Yes, Leigh, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said China is attempting to distort the facts after claiming it allowed medical evacuation of two wounded Philippine Navy personnel from Ayungin Shoal. In a statement, the task force described the China Coast Guard's claim as false maintaining that the Philippines conducted the humanitarian mission independently within its own maritime jurisdiction.

[00:00:50]According to the NTF-WPS, China Coast Guard rigid hulled inflatable boats repeatedly carried out dangerous blocking maneuvers that delayed the transfer of the injured servicemen from the BRP Sierra Madre to the Philippine Coast Guard vessels. The task force said these actions is increased the risk to what it described as a time-critical humanitarian mission.

[00:01:13]Despite the reported obstruction, Philippine authorities successfully completed the medical evacuation. The NTF-WPS also stressed that humanitarian missions should never be obstructed or used to advance maritime claims adding that the Philippines does not need China's permission to conduct lawful activities within its own maritime domain. The statement comes days after a violent confrontation on July 20 between the Philippine Navy personnel stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre against China Coast Guard personnel who approached within 20 to 30 m of the Philippine military outpost in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Leigh?

[00:01:53]>> The AFP is disputing though the videos released by Beijing. Now, what is the military's response to those clips? And what is the government's position following the incident?

[00:02:04]>> Yes, Myra. The AFP said videos released by China do not show the full sequence of events. According to AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea retired rear admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the footage was spliced or incomplete and failed to show that its China Coast Guard boat had first approached the BRP Sierra Madre before the confrontation occurred. The military maintains that the Chinese vessel unlawfully entered the area prompting the Philippine forces to respond. And Myra, the task force said the incident is part of the China's pattern of illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions, including spread of disinformation. It also reiterated that the Union Shoal is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone under 1982 UNCLOS and that the China's sweeping maritime claims have no legal basis under the international law. The task force also called on the China to respect humanitarian operation and comply within its international obligations, Myra.

[00:03:05]>> Thank you. Lady Cababagni reporting.

[00:03:08]The China Coast Guard [music] ship that deployed the rubber boat that illegally approached the BRP Sierra Madre left Ayungin [music] Shoal this morning.

[00:03:18]That's according to Sea Light Foundation executive director Ray Powell. On BNC's At the Forefront, Powell said may be triggered [music] by the outrage over the violent encounter in Ayungin that left two Filipino soldiers [music] injured.

[00:03:34]Powell adds the Philippines must continue to call out China's incursions in the West [music] Philippine Sea.