MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela on Wednesday said China did not need to grant permission for the medical evacuation of two injured Filipino servicemen from Ayungin Shoal because the operation was conducted within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
“We don’t need any permission from anybody because this is being conducted within our Exclusive Economic Zone, and it is in accordance with Unclos and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” Tarriela said in a press briefing in Manila.
The evacuation was launched after two Philippine Navy personnel were injured when Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) personnel allegedly struck Philippine Navy troops with wooden batons during a confrontation near BRP Sierra Madre on Monday.
Tarriela said the CCG broadcast radio messages identifying the mission as a humanitarian medical evacuation and reminding vessels in the area not to obstruct life-saving operations, but he rejected China’s claim that it had allowed the evacuation.
“So for the CCG to claim that they have permitted and allowed the PCG to carry out this medical evacuation, I’m not really sure what is their objective,” Tarriela said.
“Customarily, everybody who is going to conduct a medical evacuation, you’re supposed to help and provide assistance,” he added. “I don’t know how the Chinese government looks at themselves that they need to give permission to an ambulance.”
Tarriela made the remarks after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China would allow humanitarian resupply missions if Manila informed Beijing in advance and after on-site verification.
Lin also reiterated China’s position that the Philippines should remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal.
Lin also accused the Philippines of carrying out “deliberate provocation and violent assault” against Chinese law enforcement personnel and spreading “false allegation, distortion and disinformation.”
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He said China had lodged “serious representations” with the Philippine government over the incident.
Tarriela said the Coast Guard never sought China’s approval for the operation.
“We are not asking for any permission. We did not ask for any agreement or cooperation with the CCG or any other watercraft in the vicinity,” he said.
42-hour operation
Tarriela also released a timeline of the more than 42-hour operation.
BRP Melchora Aquino departed Ulugan Bay in Palawan at 2:39 p.m. on Monday, accompanied by BRP Malapascua.
The two vessels returned to Oyster Bay at 7:10 a.m. on Wednesday after completing the evacuation.
At 6:46 a.m. on Tuesday, while about 14 nautical miles northeast of Ayungin Shoal, CCG vessel 5308 radioed BRP Melchora Aquino, saying it was allowing the transfer “out of humanitarian consideration” while asserting Chinese sovereignty over the area.
Tarriela said the PCG replied only by informing nearby vessels that it would proceed to the rendezvous point to pick up the injured Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel.
Four China Coast Guard vessels — CCG-5308, CCG-4303, CCG-21542 and CCG-5204 — were in the area during the operation, according to the PCG.
Tarriela said a rigid-hull inflatable boat deployed from CCG-5308 attempted to block a PCG inflatable boat as it approached the rendezvous point at the northeastern entrance of Ayungin Shoal shortly before 11 a.m.
Despite the interference, the PCG transferred the two injured servicemen to BRP Melchora Aquino at about 11:30 a.m. Coast Guard medical personnel treated them onboard before they were turned over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines after the vessels reached Oyster Bay on Wednesday morning.
Connectivity issues
Tarriela also disclosed that the PCG lost Starlink internet connectivity for about five hours while approaching Ayungin Shoal.
He said communication was lost at around 7:25 a.m. when the vessels were about 11 nautical miles northeast of the shoal. Connectivity was restored only after the medical evacuation was completed.
Tarriela said the PCG had experienced similar connectivity disruptions near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), but this was the first documented case near Ayungin Shoal.
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He said the incident would be reported to the Department of Information and Communications Technology for coordination with Starlink.
Following the incident, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to Malacañang and condemned what he described as China’s “illegal, aggressive and barbaric actions” against Filipino personnel. The President also called for accountability for those responsible.
Despite the latest confrontation, Tarriela said the national government’s policy remains to pursue diplomatic engagement with China.
“As a Coast Guard officer and as a Filipino, I think the diplomatic engagement of the national government remains to be our most important tool in resolving our differences and the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. /mcm
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