Statement of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (October 22, 2023)

NSC PRESS RELEASE

Strategic Communications Office

22 October 2023

At around 0604H this morning, while conducting a regular and routine Rotation and Resupply (RORE) mission to BRP SIERRA MADRE (LS57), dangerous blocking maneuvers of China Coast Guard vessel 5203 (CCGV 5203) caused it to collide with the Armed Forces of the Philippines-contracted indigenous resupply boat Unaiza May 2 (UM2) approximately 13.5 nautical miles (NM) East Northeast of LS57. The provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action of CCGV 5203 imperiled the safety of the crew of UM2.

During the same RORE mission, Philippine Coast Guard vessel MRRV 4409's port side was bumped by Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003) while it was lying to approximately 6.4NM Northeast of Ayungin Shoal.

The RORE mission is still ongoing, with Unaiza May 1 (UM1) reaching BRP SIERRA MADRE to successfully resupply our troops and personnel stationed there.

Relevant authorities are briefed of the incident and developments in the ongoing RORE mission.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) condemns in the strongest degree the latest dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal actions of the CCG and the Chinese Maritime Militia done this morning, in violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction and in utter blatant disregard of the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and relevant international maritime conventions, and the 2016 Arbitral Award. # # #