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'Psychological warfare': NSC blasts China's narrative on removing ship in Ayungin

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Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="This aerial photograph taken from a military aircraft shows the dilapidated Sierra Madre ship of the Philippine Navy anchored near Ayungin shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) with Philippine soldiers on-board to secure the perimeter in the Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea, west of Palawan, on May 11, 2015. The Spratlys are considered a potential Asian flashpoint, and claimant nations including the Philippines have expressed alarm as China has embarked on massive reclamation activity. Ritchie B. Tongo, Pool/AFP " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/afp/08/08/ayungin-shoal-afp-08082023.jpg"/><figcaption>This aerial photograph taken from a military aircraft shows the dilapidated Sierra Madre ship of the Philippine Navy anchored near Ayungin shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) with Philippine soldiers on-board to secure the perimeter in the Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea, west of Palawan, on May 11, 2015. The Spratlys are considered a potential Asian flashpoint, and claimant nations including the Philippines have expressed alarm as China has embarked on massive reclamation activity. Ritchie B. Tongo, Pool/AFP </figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — The National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday described China&#x27;s narrative on the country&#x27;s alleged promise to remove BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal as a form of &quot;psychological warfare.&quot; Jonathan Malaya, NSC assistant director general, reiterated that Beijing should reveal who the Filipino official or individual that supposedly promised removing the ship in Ayungin, saying they should prove this claim. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/07/23/ph-summons-china-ambassador-over-water-cannoning-of-boats">Philippines summons China ambassador over water cannoning of boats</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/09/23/philippines-denies-promising-china-to-leave-ayungin">Philippines denies promising China to remove ship from Ayungin</a></li></ul>&quot;If they really believe in what they are saying, then ilabas nila ang mga tao diumano na nagsasabing ganun... Parang tuloy tayo ay — we&#x27;re stuck in the Chinese narrative,&quot; Malaya told Radyo 630. &quot;Kinakagat natin yung [psychological warfare] ng China,&quot; he said. According to Malaya, it seems that the Chinese want the Philippines to be divided on this issue, saying this could be a part of the Asian power&#x27;s strategy.&quot;Remember, lahat ito parte ito ng psywar ng China kasi gusto ng China na hindi tayo magkasundo bilang isang bansa. Diba? The less harmonious and the less unified we are in this position, it plays into the game plan of China,&quot; he said. Meanwhile, Malaya said they are looking into the possibility of informants, after the Philippine Coast Guard said China&#x27;s Coast Guard has <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/14/23/china-has-advance-intel-on-resupply-missions-pcg">advanced knowledge</a> of the Philippines&#x27; resupply missions. The official said the Armed Forces of the Philippines&#x27; operational security must be given premium, as this is the government&#x27;s responsibility. &quot;Isa yan sa mga anggulo na tinitingnan natin kasi based doon sa ating assessment noong nangyari, handang-handa ang Tsina para magkaroon, para i-block ang ating mga barko, in particular yung dalawang Coast Guard vessels natin at 2 supply boats natin,&quot; he said. Malaya though is not discounting other possibilities. &quot;Hindi mo rin kasi, trabaho ng lahat ng bansa na magkaroon ng magandang intelligence. Siyempre may mga satellites din naman ang Tsina, may mga assets din yan sa ating bansa,&quot; he said. A spokesperson for China&#x27;s foreign ministry <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/05/23/chinese-vessels-blocked-ph-coast-guard-ships-off-ayungin-shoal-official">last week said</a> the Philippines supposedly &quot;made clear promises to tow away the warship illegally &#x27;stranded&#x27; on the reef.&quot;Beijing renewed the call for the aging ship&#x27;s removal days after Manila accused the China Coast Guard of firing water cannon against Philippine boats on a resupply mission to marines stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/14/23/china-reiterates-ayungin-shoal-claim">China reiterates Ayungin Shoal claim</a></li></ul>The BRP Sierra Madre was deliberately grounded in 1999 in an effort to check the advance of China in the hotly contested waters. The handful of Philippine marines deployed on the crumbling vessel depend upon resupply missions to survive their remote posting.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2754320" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

According to Malaya, it seems that the Chinese want the Philippines to be divided on this issue, saying this could be a part of the Asian power's strategy.

'Psychological warfare': NSC blasts China's narrative on removing ship in Ayungin

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'Psychological warfare': NSC blasts China's narrative on removing ship in Ayungin

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 15, 2023 07:18 PM PHT

Read More:

China

psychological warfare

West Philippine Sea

South China Sea

BRP Sierra Madre

Ayungin Shoal

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