The question AFP’s Catapang won’t answer

A Chinese television reporter joined Manila defense reporters in an ambush interview with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr on Thursday, August 14.

She asked: “When is your next resupply mission to Ayungin [Shoal] and how do you plan to outsmart the Chinese vessels?”

A smiling Catapang replied: “In order to outsmart the Chinese, we will not announce the date we plan to do it. We’ll just do it first and announce it later.”

The general, the military officers, and the journalists – including the Chinese reporter – had a good laugh.

The question recalls the tense March 29 rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy to Ayungin Shoal in West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), where the Philippines grounded a World War II era warship to serve as an unconventional naval detachment for the Philippine Marines that keeps watch of the disputed territories.

China demands that the Philippines tow the ship out of the shoal, even offering to shoulder the cost, but the Philippines won’t give in. The Chinese Coast Guard has previously forced the Philippine Navy to abort resupply mission but on March 29, the Filipinos successfully evaded them in an operation where the US Navy assisted.

The incident happened a day before the Philippines filed its international arbitration case against China.

The Marines are rotated in Ayungin Shoal every 3 months but blockades by China has in the past forced them to stay in the grounded ship for an extended period.

Another resupply mission was conducted in July. There were no blockades.

The Philippines is currently concerned with the continued buildup of China in the disputed maritime territories. It is proposing a moratorium on provocative activities but China is rejecting it. – Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com

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