US stresses PH right to resupply...

terms of sending any type of additional assistance. To my knowledge, the Philippines has not asked for additional assistance,”

Ryder added.

The U.S. reaffirmed that an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces, including those of its Coast Guard, in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

On Monday, August 7, the Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest over China’s latest attack on Philippine vessels. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and presented the Philippines’ strongly worded diplomatic protest on the blocking and water cannon operations by the CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels against Philippine boats.

The Philippines demanded that China immediately stop its illegal activities in the country’s maritime zones.

During a joint press conference, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) showed videos and photographs of six CCG ships and two Chinese militia vessels blocking two Philippine boats on a routine supply mission, dangerous maneuvers and aggressive use of water cannon against the boats.

The Philippines has filed 445 diplomatic protests since 2020 over China’s illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea. In 2023, 35 diplomatic protests were filed, including the note verbale given during the summoning of the Chinese envoy.

Japan ODA

Japan has provided more than P12 billion in funding to the Philippines to support its emergency response to victims of natural calamities and finance the purchase of new maritime equipment. Japan is allocating 30 billion yen, or P11.79 billion, for the Post-Disaster Standby Loan (PDSL) Phase 3 that seeks to bankroll recovery measures in disaster aftermath.

As with previous tranches of the PDSL, the Philippines can tap the financing anytime it requires additional capital for response and relief efforts. The loan is slapped with an interest rate of 0.01 percent per annum and should be repaid within a period of 30 years.

“With Typhoon Egay attacking the Philippines just last month, it is evident that our countries are frequently exposed to natural disasters, including typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said.

Japan is also giving a grant of 1.1 billion yen, or P432.14 million, for the Satellite Data Communication System of the PCG to improve monitoring of the West Philippine Sea.

Koshikawa on Tuesday signed the notes for PDSL 3 and the Satellite Data Communication System and turned over the documents to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Tokyo serves as the largest ODA source for Manila, with loans ranging from economic support to military assistance. n