Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday, September 16, rejected China’s renewed call for the Philippines to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, arguing that Beijing has no authority to interfere in the Philippines’ activities in the area under international law.
Teodoro made the remarks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience in Pasay City, following a fresh statement from the Chinese Embassy accusing Manila of conducting extensive repairs and reinforcement of the grounded Philippine Navy vessel in an effort to establish a permanent presence at the shoal.
Teodoro said the latest statement from Beijing should not affect the Philippines’ actions in the disputed area.
“Well, I will not regard their statement with any importance, because it was made in an area where they have no rhyme, no reason to make any comment about us,” Teodoro said.
He reiterated the Philippine government’s position that its activities in Ayungin Shoal are carried out in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other applicable principles of international law.
“As the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] has repeatedly said, and their narrative of whatever sha-sha-sha and tau-tau-tau, which the world doesn’t recognize, together with their non-dash line, is something that we should not even give importance to, and we should continue to do, whatever UNCLOS and international law gives us within our respective areas of sovereign rights or jurisdiction,” he said.
The BRP Sierra Madre has remained grounded at Ayungin Shoal since 1999 and serves as a Philippine military outpost in the West Philippine Sea.
China has repeatedly called for the vessel’s removal. In its latest statement, the Chinese Embassy claimed that the Philippines had previously committed to taking away the vessel and accused Manila of undertaking measures intended to keep the ship permanently stationed at the shoal.
The Department of Foreign Affairs rejected the allegation on Tuesday, saying there is no agreement between the Philippines and China requiring Manila to remove or tow away the BRP Sierra Madre.
The DFA also maintained that Ayungin Shoal is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Under the 2016 arbitral ruling issued pursuant to UNCLOS, Ayungin Shoal was determined to be a low-tide elevation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The DFA has maintained that the ruling is final and binding on the parties under international law.
Asked about Beijing’s demand for the immediate removal of the BRP Sierra Madre, Teodoro said China had no legal basis to issue such an order.
“They have no right to say that,” he said. “So it is beyond their jurisdiction and beyond any form of intervention under international law.”
Teodoro also brought up China’s refusal to participate in the arbitration proceedings that led to the 2016 ruling.
“And they also, probably, shall we say, they are also estopped or inhibited or barred from saying that because they did not participate in the arbitration proceedings,” he said.
He further accused China of acting contrary to UNCLOS by disregarding the arbitration process and the resulting ruling.
“So now they cannot violate UNCLOS by doing things outside UNCLOS, and disregarding UNCLOS, and by not participating in the arbitration they violated UNCLOS,” he added.
The Philippines and China have operated under a provisional arrangement since July 2024 concerning Philippine rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre.
Manila has repeatedly said the arrangement does not diminish Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction and does not require the Philippines to obtain China’s permission before conducting the missions.