DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday warned that any attempt by China to tow away the grounded BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal constitutes an act of war against the Philippines.
“We are constantly being threatened, subtly, and now more overtly,” Teodoro said, citing growing pressure on the Philippines amid escalating tensions with Beijing.
He said that any attempt to forcibly remove the Philippine Navy vessel would be a serious threat to the country’s military and national security.
The Sierra Madre was deliberately beached at Ayungin in 1990 to serve as permanent military outpost and assert Philippine sovereign rights on the disputed shoal.
Teodoro made it clear that declaring a state of war is a separate constitutional matter involving the president and Congress.
His warning followed reports that China was considering 10 possible countermeasures against the Philippines, including towing away the Sierra Madre, blocking Philippine resupply missions and imposing economic sanctions.
The supposed measures also included possible restrictions on oil and fertilizer supplies, raising concerns that the maritime dispute could spill over into trade, energy security and agriculture.
The proposals have not been officially confirmed by Beijing.
Also known internationally as Second Thomas Shoal, Ayungin lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the Spratly Islands. China claims the area and has repeatedly harassed missions to resupply Philippine soldiers stationed at the shoal.
