Iwas-pusoy ang Pentagon sa isyu ng presensya ng isang US aircraft sa katatapos na resupply mission ng Pilipinas sa BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal.
Hindi direktang sinagot ni Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder ang mga tanong hinggil sa isyu ngunit binigyang diin ang pananatili ng todong suporta ng Amerika sa Pilipinas sa usapin ng soberanya.
“I don’t have anything specific to report in terms of U.S. military assistance. I believe the Philippines can provide details about their operations,” sabi ni Ryder.
Anang Pentagon Press Secretary, nakatutok ang U.S. sa Pilipinas at anomang oras ay nakahandang sumaklolo kung kailangan ng bansa.
“We have publicly expressed our support for the Philippines and their right to sovereignty, as well as their right to operate within their own waters. Broadly speaking, we will continue to work closely with the Philippines to provide support as they request. And I’ll leave it at that,” paliwanag ni Ryder.
Namataan ang isang US Navy surveillance plane na nagpaikot-ikot malapit sa Second Thomas Shoal habang ang China Coast Guard at Chinese Maritime Militia ay hinaharass ang resupply mission ng Pilipinas.
Iginiit ni Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. kamakalawa na ang nakitang aircraft sa ginanap na resupply mission ay bahagi ng isang freedom of navigation operations ng Amerika.
“In the role of the United States in those resupplies, they were providing freedom of navigation, they were conducting freedom of navigation operations on their own uncoordinated with us, which they do on a regular basis anyway,” sabi ni Teodoro.
“Well, they (US) might have coordinated it. But that’s below my level of coordination if ever,” dagdag niya.
Kaugnay nito, inihayag ng Pentagon Press Secretary na suportado ng US ang paninindigan ng Pilipinas na ang Thomas Shoal, na nais sakupin ng China, ay bahagi ng Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“I think the Philippines has been clear about their view regarding that ship and Second Thomas Shoal. We support the Philippines in defending and protecting their sovereign waters,” ani Ryder.
Nilinaw ni Ryder na ang joint military exercises sa South China Sea na lalahukan ng Japan, Australia, at Philippines ay walang kinalaman sa insidente sa Thomas Shoal.
“Our exercises were planned well in advance and coordinated. These exercises are designed to ensure that our countries can collaborate effectively, be interoperable, learn from each other, and strengthen the security cooperation relationships we have. This exercise is one of many that we conduct with partners and allies throughout the region,” wika niya.
