Mandaue City Council condemns China’s actions on Ayungin Shoal
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The Mandaue City Council passed a resolution condemning what it described as the unlawful and aggressive actions of the People’s Republic of China against Filipino military personnel on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
The council approved the resolution, drafted by Councilor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, during its session on Monday, July 27, 2026.
It also expressed support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and other government agencies tasked with protecting the country’s maritime domain and enforcing the Philippines’ rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
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Mandaue City’s statement
The measure calls on local government units and Filipinos to stand in solidarity with security forces defending the country’s sovereign rights, amid reported aggressive actions against Filipino personnel assigned to protect Philippine interests on Ayungin Shoal.
During a confrontation with the Chinese Coast Guard on July 20, a member of the Philippine Navy suffered injuries.
“Other nations have condemned China. Mas nindot kung tibuok Pilipinas nagkahiusa sa atoang baruganan sa pagproteher sa atoang lugar sa Exclusive Economic Zone,” said Fortuna.
(It would be better if the entire nation united behind our stand to protect our Exclusive Economic Zone.)
Defending the Philippines’ rights
“We consistently express our sentiments that the Arbitral Award is final, and that we own that part of the sea. It belongs to the Philippines, and no other country should force us to give it to them,” he added.
The resolution cites the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award as legal bases for the Philippines’ rights over Ayungin Shoal, also known internationally as Second Thomas Shoal.
It also references reported incidents involving the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia during Philippine rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre. That included allegedly dangerous maneuvers, water cannons, blockades, and boarding incidents that resulted in damage to Philippine vessels and injuries to Filipino personnel.
International support
Councilor Fortuna emphasized the need for the Philippines to continue asserting its maritime rights while pursuing peace, dialogue, and diplomacy in resolving disputes.
“We are only defending our own rights, atoa man nang EEZ, atoa man nang dagat, atoa man nang Shoal. Wala ta miingun makig-away ta, nidepensa ta sa atoang teritoryo sa Pilipinas,” said Fortuna.
(The EEZ is ours, along with that part of the sea and the Shoal. We are not looking for a fight. We are merely defending Philippine territory.)
The resolution also acknowledged statements of support from United Nations member-states, the European Union, the United States, and other countries regarding developments in the West Philippine Sea.
The United States has repeatedly called on China to comply with the 2016 ruling. Both the former Biden and current Trump administrations have warned that Washington is obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, vessels or aircraft come under an armed attack in the disputed waters.
China continues to defy the arbitral ruling and defend its claims to virtually the entire sea passage, a key global trade route where the territorial standoffs, which also involve the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, have long been feared as one of Asia’ most active flashpoints. (With an Associated Press report)
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