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AFP chief confirms discussion with Chinese envoy on resupply missions, Christmas convoy

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner gives a media briefing after the Change of Command ceremonies at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on July 21, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/12/13/20230721-afp-change-of-command-ceremony-jc-12.jpg"/><figcaption>Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner gives a media briefing after the Change of Command ceremonies at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on July 21, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File.</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday confirmed that he had a discussion with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian regarding the resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea.According to Brawner, he asked Huang not to block the resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea, especially the recently-concluded civilian mission.“In fact, nag-usap kami ni Ambassador Huang, noong minsang nagkita kami, sinabi ko sa kanya na that is not your territory. In fact, sinabi ko, that is our Exclusive Economic Zone. So please do not block our resupply ships,” he told Teleradyo Serbisyo.“At sinabihan ko rin siya na huwag nilang i-block ‘yung Christmas convoy. Sabi ko mga civilians ‘yun, do not block, they’re just merely bringing food and gifts to our soldiers and the communities in the West Philippine Sea,” Brawner added.Brawner maintained that he had an “intellectual discussion” with Huang about the West Philippine Sea, with both parties reiterating their claims.Asked if this was the same discussion where Huang allegedly threatened the AFP chief, Brawner said: &quot;Hindi naman dinuro-duro. Nag-usap lang kami. ‘Yun nga, sinabi ko lang ‘yung side natin dahil sa tingin ko, malakas ang paniniwala ko na tayo ang nasa tama.&quot;&quot;Hindi natin inaagaw ang teritoryo nila. We are just there to protect our sovereignty and our sovereign rights.&quot;&quot;Nabanggit nga [ni Huang] &#x27;You are provoking us.&#x27; So sinabi ko sa kanya: &#x27;No, you are the ones provoking us. Anyway, ganun lang &#x27;yung discussion. He was stressing a point and I also was stressing a point.<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=2900907" 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>Over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard released videos showing Chinese ships blasting water cannon at Philippine boats during two separate resupply missions to fishermen at Scarborough Shoal and a tiny garrison at Second Thomas Shoal on Saturday and Sunday.There was also a collision between Philippine and Chinese boats at Second Thomas Shoal, where a handful of Filipino troops are stationed on a grounded warship, with both countries trading blame.The Philippines said on Monday it had summoned China&#x27;s envoy and flagged the possibility of expelling him following the most tense confrontations between the countries&#x27; vessels in years at flashpoint reefs in the disputed South China Sea.China, for its part, said it had &quot;lodged stern representations&quot; with Manila over the incidents.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/11/23/china-says-moves-on-philippine-ships-professional-restrained">China says moves on Philippine ships &#x27;professional, restrained&#x27;</a></li></ul>Following the incidents, Brawner spoke with United States Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Charles Brown Jr. on the phone to discuss assessments on the regional security environment.The two highest ranking military leaders of Manila and Washington also discussed China’s harassment of Philippine vessels conducting rotation and resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/12/23/afp-told-to-maintain-maximum-tolerance-amid-chinese-aggression">Brawner tells AFP to maintain ‘maximum tolerance’ amid Chinese aggression, harassment in WPS</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/12/23/ph-us-military-chiefs-discuss-regional-security-in-call">PH, US military chiefs discuss cooperation on regional security in call</a></li></ul>

AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said he had a discussion with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian regarding the resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea.