THE Philippine Coast Guard yesterday said its ongoing maritime exercises with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea have nothing to do with Chinese presence in the contested region.
PCG spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo said the exercises, which started last week, are not a show of force but merely part of the coast guard’s function to improve the interoperability of PCG and BFAR personnel and ships.
Balilo said the PCG is engaged in the maritime exercise based on necessity and doctrine concerning their ships and personnel.
“Exercise po ito. Tayo ay nagsasanay lamang po. (This is an exercise. We are just training),” he said when asked if the exercise is a show of force.
The military exercises are being held near the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island and near the Scarborough Shoal which has been under the de facto control of the Chinese since 2012 after a standoff between Chinese and Philippine ships.
Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese fishing vessels have been present near Pag-asa Island and Scarborough for several years now. Last month, over 200 Chinese maritime militia vessels were seen at the Julian Felipe Reef. About 10 of them remain at the reef while the rest have dispersed to other areas in the West Philippine Sea.
Balilo did not say until when the exercise in the West Philippine Sea will last but said they will later be brought to other areas, including Batanes and the southern Philippines where authorities are dealing with a piracy problem.
Balilo said the PCG has conducted maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea in the past, some of them involving the US Coast Guard.
But he admitted that the ongoing exercise is larger. Asked why, Balilo said the PCG has a large role to play in guarding Philippine waters. He said there is also a need to further improve the interoperability of the PCG and BFAR.
Balilo said the PCG did not plan the ongoing exercise in relation to China. He said the exercises are focused solely on navigation, maritime safety, search and rescue and environmental protection.
