The Philippines is not escalating the recent Ayungin Shoal incident to an international body, as Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stated on Friday, expressing the country’s willingness to collaborate with China to resolve the dispute.
During a Palace press briefing, Bersamin was asked if the government is considering bringing the matter to a global body. He responded, “That’s not yet in consideration because I think this is a matter that can easily be resolved very soon by us. And if China wants to work with us, we can work with China.”
Bersamin, who chairs the National Maritime Council (NMC), mentioned that the invocation of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) was not discussed during the NMC’s second meeting on Friday. However, the NMC recommended to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. the continuation of routine and regular rotation and reprovision (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal despite China’s provocative actions. Bersamin noted that announcements for RORE missions will be made before they are conducted.
The Philippine government does not consider the incident an armed attack, with Bersamin suggesting it may have been “a misunderstanding or an accident.” It was initially reported that eight Filipino servicemen were injured during the June 17 incident, but the NMC clarified that only one was hurt.
Bersamin emphasized that a peaceful, stable, and prosperous West Philippine Sea (WPS) and South China Sea (SCS) is still a distant reality. He added that the Council has agreed on policy recommendations for President Marcos’ consideration.