China is provoking the Philippines to fire the first shot - Trinidad

Still from a footage shared by the Armed Forces of the Philippines show Chinese Coast Guard vessels surrounding Philippine ships on its way to BRP Sierra Madre for a resupply mission. Watch the full video here.

By Victor Reyes | Date 06-25-2024

MANILA — When the Chinese Coast Guard swarmed and attacked with machetes, axes, and knives the Philippine Navy’s rigid-hulled inflatable boats, it wanted the Filipino sailors to fire the first shot.

Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, the navy’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, condemned China’s provocation, raising tension in the disputed waters.

“They would like to push us to fire the first shot,” Trinidad said. “We must understand that they want to find a way for you to commit a mistake. So if you know that, what is your protection? Your action should be within the bounds of law.”

On June 17, eight Chinese Coast Guard fast boats intercepted and boarded two Philippine Navy’s rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) on a humanitarian mission.

The Chinese also punctured the RHIBs and other rubber boats attached to BRP Sierra Madre.

Trinidad said the Chinese dangerous maneuvers resulted in serious injury to one of the troops on board one of the Philippine Navy RHIBs.

The Chinese also took seven rifles, which were disassembled and placed on gun cases and other equipment, and destroyed others.

Trinidad said a civilian supply boat, ML Lapu-Lapu, which was supposed to bring supplies to troops at Ayungin Shoal did not proceed with its mission after the Chinese rammed it.

He said China also deployed a military helicopter and three Hubei-class missile boats. 

“This should never get into a shooting war,” Trinidad said as China was preparing a full assault on BRP Sierra Madre once the shooting started.

Trinidad said Filipino troops are under instructions “not to get there; we are putting a lot of effort into that”, referring to the firing of a shot. (Also read: PH not seeking to instigate wars —  Marcos)

Nevertheless, Trinidad said the behavior of the Chinese last week was not enough to fire a shot.

“Because number one, in mission accomplishment, force is not allowed. Number two, it is only in self-defense, defense of yourself, others, or of your unit.”

He said the serious injury sustained by a Navy sailor was “unintended.” 

The sailor lost his right thumb after a Chinese RHIB rammed the Philippine Navy RHIB he was boarding.

“Our actions will always be guided by the rules of engagement. It will always be within the bounds of international law. We are here to assert our sovereignty, we are here to ensure our sovereign rights are protected,” said Trinidad.

Trinidad said “appropriate changes” will be adopted during future RoRe missions. (Also read: US was not ready to commit troops to the West Philippine Sea​)

“We will do more planning and there will be changes, you will see changes…I would say there will be appropriate changes,” said Trinidad.

Trinidad said they are conducting an “after-activity review” in relation to last Monday’s RoRe mission. “We look at the good, we look at where could improve,” he said.

“We can’t say something went wrong but there were gaps that we identified that we have to address,” said Trinidad.

Asked what the gaps were, Trinidad said Filipino troops went to the area governed by rules of engagement and international law while the personnel from the other side were not.

“What they did was piracy,” said Trinidad, adding the actions of the Chinese were rude and made Filipinos look like fools.

“I call them a band of barbarians and in the first place, they have no right to wear the uniform. Coast Guard men are supposed to be responsible for safety of life at sea. Their actions endanger life at sea,” said Trinidad.

He said the behavior of the Chinese Coast Guard personnel “does not speak well of a country that wants to be a global power.”

“Now, how do we ensure this will not be repeated? We could not ensure it will be not repeated because they (Chinese) dictate their actions,” said Trinidad.

“We could do is to prepare our men, equip them appropriately,” said Trinidad.

Trinidad said the recent incident at Ayungin was just a “microcosm of the bigger picture.”

The bigger picture, Trinidad said, is China’s encroachment into the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“At the lower level, at the tactical level, their actions are to enforce their encroachment which is in the first place has been debunked by the arbitral tribunal (ruling in) 2016,” he said.

The ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s excessive claim in the South China Sea. It also acknowledged the rights of the Philippines to its EEZ. (Also read: Philippines extends maritime economic entitlement in UN submission)