Chinese warships in PH territory ‘worrisome’ — PBBM

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THE presence of Chinese warships in the country’s traditional fishing ground in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and increased cyberattacks on Philippine vessels are “worrisome,” but government is determined to defend its territory, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said yesterday.

On Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard said three Chinese Navy ships were seen at the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal during a patrol mission by a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

On Tuesday, the Armed Forces reported electronic and communication interference on Philippine Navy ships and land-based facilities in the West Philippine for the past several years, usually during resupply missions. The government has yet to pinpoint the source of the interference.

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The President said the government’s priority is to “defend our maritime territory” and to “continue to support all of our fishermen, fisherfolks who make their living from these fishing grounds.”

He said the situation in the disputed waters changed with the presence of Chinese Navy ships.

“It’s worrisome because there are two elements to that. One is that the — dati Coast Guard lang ng China ang gumagalaw doon sa area natin. Ngayon, may Navy na. Sumama pa mga fishing boat (It’s worrisome because there are two elements to that. One is that in the past it’s only the Chinese Coast Guard there in our area. Now they have their Navy and some fishing boats),” he said.

He added that while there had been Chinese attempts to block or shadow the Philippine vessels that are there to support the Filipino fishermen, the government would continue assisting and protecting the Filipino fishermen especially since they are fishing within the country’s territory.

The President reiterated Filipinos, for generations, have been fishing in these traditional fishing grounds, which are located within Philippine territory.

“So, that’s essentially the issue there. So, that’s the basic principle there, is that the fishers must be allowed to fish in their traditional fishing grounds, which belong in the maritime territory of the Philippines,” he said.

China has been claiming almost the entire South China Sea/West Philippine Sea based initially on the nine-dash theory which an international tribunal invalidated in 2016.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said any foreign intrusion into the country’s waters is a cause for concern.

“Any foreign interference or presence in Philippine waters not in alignment with UNCLOS is always a cause of concern and will be addressed appropriately in accordance with domestic and international laws,” he said.

UNCLOS, or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Law, provides coastal states like the Philippines a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Scarborough Shoal is 124 nautical miles from Masinloc, Zambales.

China gained control of the shoal in 2012 following a standoff with Philippine government vessels. Since then, the Chinese have prevented Filipino fishermen from fishing inside the shoal’s lagoon.

Trinidad, asked how they are going to address such interference, “I don’t want to speculate on the actions at the operational level that will be carried out by the concerned naval operating force or AFP Unified Command.”

As of last Tuesday, Trinidad said no Chinese Navy was present in territorial waters of Scarborough Shoal.

‘AGGRESSION VERY REAL’

Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said harassment and aggressive activities by Chinese vessels against Filipino ships in the West Philippine Sea is a real flashpoint that could result in a military conflict.

Speaking before the Consular Corp of the Philippines, Romualdez acknowledged that Chinese aggression is a challenge that Manila has never seen since World War II when the country was attacked and occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army for more than five years.

“The aggression that we are now facing is very real,” Romualdez, who is a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said.

Marcos initiated a major turnaround of the country’s foreign policy since he assumed power in 2022, away from the one espoused by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who sought to maintain close ties with Beijing and Moscow, away from Washington, the country’s traditional ally and security guarantor.

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The Marcos administration also approved four more military sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), where US troops can station with their supplies and equipment, bringing to nine the number of EDCA sites across the country.

Three of the four new EDCA sites are located in northern Luzon close to Taiwan namely Lal-lo airport and Camilo Osias Naval Base in Cagayan, and Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Upi Gamu, Isabela.

China claims Taiwan is part of its territory.

The fourth site is in Balabac, Palawan, near the disputed South China Sea where Beijing has constructed military facilities on artificial islands it has built.

Chinese officials said these sites can be used by the US to conduct surveillance on their forces, and to possibly intervene if the tension in the Taiwan Strait worsens.

Romualdez said encounters between Filipino and Chinese vessels in the WPS, with the latter blocking resupply to Filipino troops and fishermen to Ayungin and Panatag shoals, may result in a major incident.

“Never did we face such a challenge because this country will not let up on their claim in many of our territorial waters,” he said.

“We hope it will never happen,” he added, referring to a possible conflict over the disputed water where more than $5 trillion of goods passes annually.

Romualdez said Manila will address the tension diplomatically, even as it works to strengthen its military capability to deter external threats.

“Diplomacy is still our best option rather than engaging in any military conflict,” he added.
Manila has a mutual defense treaty with Washington signed in 1951 that binds both countries to come to each other’s aid in case of invasion or aggression.

Romualdez said Manila will never relent on its maritime claim.

ZONES ACT

Trinidad welcomed the Senate’s passage on final reading of the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act which defines the country’s rights and entitlements over its maritime zones and underwater features.

“This will afford the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces a better approach in governing our maritime zones,” Trinidad told a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.

Trinidad said measure, if signed into law, “would afford us a clearer perspective of the maritime domain, thus our governance, and preserving the maritime entitlements will be much better.”

National Security Adviser and National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea chairman Eduardo Año welcomed the Senate move.

Año thanked Senator President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones chairman Sen. Francis Tolentino, who authored the measure, for advancing the passage of the bill.

“This marks a significant step forward in safeguarding our nation’s maritime interests and asserting our sovereign rights over our maritime domains,” he said.

This legislation not only reaffirms our sovereign rights over our Exclusive Economic Zone but also establishes clear guidelines for the delineation of maritime zones, including sea lanes, air routes, and the utilization of natural resources within our jurisdiction,” he added.

Año said the Philippines is an archipelagic and maritime nation and its seas are vital in economic prosperity and national security.

“By enacting comprehensive legislation such as the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, we strengthen our ability to manage and protect our maritime resources while promoting peaceful and lawful maritime activities in our waters,” said Año.

Año expressed hope that that the companion bill, the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Bill, at the House of Representatives will also be passed. — With Victor Reyes and Ashzel Hachero

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