PH troops accused of destroying Chinese fishing nets in Ayungin ---- Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Beijing has accused Filipino troops of destroying and removing fishing nets installed by Chinese fishermen within the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. China’s official news agency Xinhua made the allegation on Tuesday, claiming that military personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre “repeatedly damaged” the fishing nets last May 15. • Philippines vows to maintain BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal: official Over 2,000 meters of Beijing’s fishing nets were damaged while more than 100 meters were confiscated by Manila, Xinhua alleged. • US to deploy assets in South China Sea as PH asks for ‘greater deployment’: PCG ABS-CBN News has reached out to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Navy for comment, but both have yet to respond as of posting. 'PH CAN DO SO' Professor Renato de Castro, an international studies professor at the De La Salle University, said the AFP had a right to conduct such operations, given that Ayungin Shoal is within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This means the Philippines has sovereign rights over the area. • 'Atin 'To' mission 'doing best' to bring provisions to fishers in West PH Sea “It’s our legitimate right to do so because it is impeding normal military procedures… Those fishing nets are not there to catch fish,” De Castro told ABS-CBN News on Thursday. The international affairs analyst added China placed the fishing nets very close to the BRP Sierra Madre to obstruct “naval and humanitarian operations.” “It’s not installed there by the Chinese fisherfolk. They were installed there by the China Coast Guard to impede a normal routine naval and humanitarian operation. We have to provide basic food to Marines on board the BRP Sierra Madre,” De Castro claimed. This allegation is the latest in China’s series of accusations against personnel of the BRP Sierra Madre. De Castro believes this is part of China’s moves to weaken the Philippines’ narrative and to gain the sympathy of the international community. • Philippines says China disrupted medical evacuation in West PH Sea “They’re reacting to the speech delivered by the president. They accuse us of hyping the tension in the South China Sea, so they’re trying to basically distract the narrative, the discourse, and telling the world that we are the ones triggering the tension,” De Castro noted. • 'Subtle yet strong': Experts praise Marcos speech at Shangri-La Dialogue Beijing has also accused Filipino troops of pointing their guns at China Coast Guard personnel last May 19. The Armed Forces of the Philippines has denied these allegations.

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