MANILA, Philippines — The National Youth Movement for West Philippine Sea has officially addressed a letter dated July 29, 2024 to Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo, DFA Undersecretary of Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, and Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., calling for a public disclosure of the recent Philippines-China deal on resupply mission at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.
NYMWPS, a non-stock, non-profit organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Nationalist Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea Inc., is composed of Filipino youth, civic leaders, active and retired professionals, former government workers, but mostly, ordinary citizens who advocate for the preservation of Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the protection of its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
Tara Jehana Tamano, a graduating student in International Studies, and member (youth sector), third assistant secretary, and head of the NYMWPS Subcommittee on Research of the De-escalation of the Resupply Mission in Ayungin Shoal said, “On July 27, 2024, the Philippine News Agency released that according to DFA, the Philippines successfully conducted a resupply mission to troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre on Saturday (July 27) without any untoward incident. The agreement’s objective is to de-escalate the tension due to the harassment of the Chinese Coast Guard ships to the Ayungin-bound Philippine vessels during their [resupply] missions. What were the discussions made during the meeting that this incident led to this recent deal? What arrangements were made to guarantee the safety and security of our vessels and personnel? Additionally, President Marcos Jr. recently announced that the [resupply] schedule will not be made public following the incident last June 17. We seek clarification on whether this decision is reflected in the said agreement. We would like to know if the non-disclosure of the [resupply] schedule is included as a provision in the agreement, ensuring that all relevant parties are aware of and adhere to this policy change. It is crucial that any agreement, temporary or permanent, does not compromise our national position, violate the Philippine Constitution, and abandon the 2016 Arbitral Award.”
Michael Benedict Ordenes, CSSWB Computer Science freshman college student, member (youth sector), and chairman of the Creative Design Committee, said, “The ‘Provisional Agreement’ must be disclosed to the public by all means possible. It is crucial for the public to know what China has tendered to us and how the Philippines will respond to that agreement. We might not fully understand what the DFA/Philippines is agreeing to. National interest should be national information. This needs to be scrutinized by the Filipino people. We cannot let this be handled solely by officials and risk our fellow Kababayans suffering.”
Engineer Rad Abarrientos, NYMWPS California, USA chapter state chairperson asked, “Did China mischaracterize the [resupply] mission? Is our Philippine position in the West Philippine Sea being compromised? This would have been not an issue if the said deal with China were transparent.”
According to France 24 News (December 21, 2023), China completely showed an aggressive behavior by accusing the Philippines of a policy change and provoking them with the incident. The NYMWPS’s study found that on July 22, 2024, China reaffirmed its sovereignty, demanding that the Philippines remove its grounded warship, citing violations of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. China is willing to allow the resupply of essentials to the warship crew with prior notification and verification but will prevent any construction or establishment of permanent facilities.
This shows a clear disrespect on our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, claiming that Ayungin Shoal is theirs, NYMWPS said.
The 1987 Constitution provides that the Philippine Archipelago, “constituting Philippine national territory, are all the islands of the Philippine Archipelago lying within the lines of the 1898 Treaty of Paris, outside the lines of the Treaty of Paris as clarified in the 1900 Treaty of Washington, and as shown in the 1734 Murillo Velarde map, the 1808 and 1875 Carta General del Archipelago Filipino, and the 1930 U.S.-U.K. Treaty demarcating the boundary between North Borneo and Southern Philippines.”
Capt. Caruso Tagal, a former Philippine Air Force pilot and a retired airline pilot of the Philippine Airlines, is the NYMWPS director of membership (adult sector). He said, “On July 12, 2016, the Philippines won at the Arbitral Tribunal against China’s nine-dash line claims and activities in the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea. Was the July 12, 2016 Arbitral Award asserted during the 9th bilateral meeting? How did China come up with the statement that Ayungin Shoal is theirs, and claiming sovereignty which is a part of the Kalayaan Island Group, Province of Palawan, after the announcement of the recent bilateral arrangement in Ayungin Shoal?”
Datu Andrei Ustares Acosta, Acting Dumara, Punong Datu, and Tribong Maelam, representing 400,000 Cuyonons in Palawan, and Puerto Princesa City, Palawan highlighted the significance of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling which favored the Philippines and reinforced the Cuyonon Ancestral Domains claim. “This ruling supports the Cuyonon’s traditional fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea. Given this, any government actions or plans concerning these areas should involve thorough consultation with the Cuyonon community, particularly concerning the Cuyonon Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title petition.”
“It is crucial to recognize the cultural and historical ties of the Cuyonon people to these waters, as these areas are not merely fishing grounds but also hold ancestral significance. Ensuring that their voices are heard in any decision-making process will uphold their rights and honor their heritage. This approach not only respects the Cuyonon community but also aligns with the principles of the Arbitral ruling that acknowledged the Philippine sovereignty and the rights of its indigenous peoples. For clarity and public understanding, it is essential to emphasize the importance of these traditional fishing grounds and the historical claims associated with them,” said Professor Jojo Sebastian, NYMWPS Australia chapter co-country chair and member of the NYMWPS Research and Education Committee based in Sydney, Australia.
Henrilito Empoc, a fisherman, and the representative of a group of Scarborough Shoal fishermen in Masinloc, Zambales, said, “As the representative of the fishermen who brave the waters of Scarborough Shoal, I express our shared concern and frustration over the ongoing harassment we face from the Chinese Coast Guard. Our livelihoods and safety have been compromised, and the uncertainty surrounding our right to fish in our traditional waters deeply affects our community.”
In anticipation of many developments that will affect the fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, Dr. Celia Lamkin, NYMWPS founder and global chairperson, said, “We seek clarity on several pressing issues:
1) Fishing Rights and Agreements. Does this situation imply that we, the Philippines, need to negotiate with China to secure our right to fish in Bajo de Masinloc? Such negotiations might suggest a recognition of China’s authority over the area, which raises serious concerns about our nation’s sovereign rights;
2) Rescue Operations and Humanitarian Aid. If emergencies arise, such as the need to rescue our fishermen or deliver essential supplies, will we be required to seek China’s permission or cooperation? The mere thought of this possibility is troubling, as it suggests a potential limitation on our country’s ability to protect and support our own citizens in our territorial waters; and
3) Implications of any deal. Entering into any agreement with China regarding fishing rights or access could have far-reaching implications. It may be interpreted as a concession of authority to China, undermining our claim to the West Philippine Sea. We question whether such a deal would truly be in the best interest of the Filipino people and our sovereign rights.”
“Our hope is that our government will prioritize the protection of our rights and welfare, ensuring that our fishermen who are the frontliners of our West Philippine Sea can fish safely and freely in our traditional waters. We call for a firm stance that respects our sovereignty and provides clear guidelines for our safety and operations in the West Philippine Sea,” said Ray Elpuz, the founder of the Samahang Magsasaka at Mangingisda Ng Masinloc Guardians composed of 1,000 members in Masinloc, Zambales and president of the NYMWPS Zambales chapter.
Tara Jehana Tamano, said, “If it were to de-escalate the tensions on the Ayungin Shoal, what will be the next move of the Philippines? Despite the inaccuracy of Mao Ning’s statement, the Ministry still asserted its sovereign rights on the Ayungin Shoal which remains concerning.”
The letter mentioned recent reports about Chinese vessels maintaining a presence in the West Philippine Sea, leading to increased patrols and confrontations with the Philippine Coast Guard. The presence of the Chinese vessels causes a threat to the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its Exclusive Economic Zone. Despite efforts to resolve the dispute in the West Philippine Sea, it is important to ask if the other areas in the Kalayaan Island Group are being overlooked.
The following questions were mentioned: Are the de-escalation efforts at Ayungin Shoal the only disputes discussed during the 9th bilateral meeting? What specific actions are being taken regarding the aforementioned incidents, especially the recent “Monster Ship” in Escoda Shoal?
Based on Xinhua News (July 27, 2024), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that if the Philippines introduces the U.S. intermediate missile system, it will create regional tension and confrontation, triggering an arms race, which is totally not in line with the interests and aspirations of the Filipino people. The key to the temporary arrangement is for the Philippine side to fulfill its commitments and refrain from changing its position. He expressed the hope that the Philippines will seriously think about the future of China-Philippines relations and work with China to push bilateral relations back on the right track at an early date. DFA Secretary Manalo also noted that the Philippines is willing to strengthen communication with China in a sincere and pragmatic manner to enhance mutual trust and improve bilateral relations.
But according to Lamkin, “China does not have a right to interfere in our sovereign matters including the mutual defense treaty with the United States. As we strive for a peaceful relationship with China, we must uphold our national interests and security. It is important that our alliances and treaties are respected, including the welfare of our Filipino fishermen, Philippine Coast Guard and military personnel.”
On July 21, the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted the DFA as saying, “Both sides continue to recognize the need to de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea and manage differences through dialogue and consultation and agree that the agreement will not prejudice each other’s positions in the South China Sea.”
The group is concerned with the use of the name “South China Sea.” On September 5, 2012, Administrative Order No. 29, consisting of 11 sections, mentioned the West Philippine Sea of the Republic of the Philippines.
Sections 1 to 3 establish that the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago are named as the West Philippine Sea. Section 5 states that all departments, subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities of the government are hereby directed to use and employ the name West Philippine Sea in all communications, messages, and public documents, to popularize the use of such name in the general public, both domestically and internationally. Thus, the West Philippine Sea should be used instead of South China Sea to reflect our claims and the government’s efforts to assert its sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea.
NYMWPS’ letter to the Marcos administration further states, “We are with you in ensuring our sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, and we commend our government on the ongoing efforts in asserting our sovereign rights. In this regard, for transparency purposes, we, the undersigned, are respectfully and humbly appealing to your good office to make the recent deal with China regarding the resupply…missions at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea to be disclosed to the public. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas at ang Sambayanang Pilipino!”
