THE government yesterday vowed to take “appropriate action” in the event the “monster ship” of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) sailing inside the Philippine territory commits provocative acts.
“Obviously, this is an act of intimidation, coercion and aggression against the Philippines,” National Security Council Assistant Director General and spokesman Jonathan Malaya also said at the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” public briefing.
He said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continues to shadow and challenge the 12,000-ton CCG vessel 5901, known as “The Monster” which is the world’s largest coast guard vessel, that was sighted by the PCG some 54 nautical miles from Capones Island in Zambales last Saturday.
US maritime expert Raymond Powell, who first reported the presence of the Chinese ship in the area, said the vessel was conducting “intrusive patrol” to assert China’s jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea.
Malaya assured the public that the government is monitoring and shadowing the vessel.
“We have all our assets pointed at this monster ship. The moment it (carries out) any provocative action, it will be met with appropriate response,” he said without elaborating as to the action the government will take.
Malaya dismissed China’s claim that its vessel was merely conducting patrol within its jurisdiction.
“This is not supported by international law,” he said, adding the PCG has been telling the Chinese that their activities in the area is illegal.
“This monster ship has not done any blocking or any dangerous maneuvers. It is moving. And given that we do not want to be the precursor of any provocative action, we’re just monitoring and shadowing it as of now,” said Malaya.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the Chinese vessel was some 80 nautical miles from Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro as of yesterday morning.
“The monster ship … remains to be within our exclusive economic zone, they are still there. As we speak right now, it is being monitored by Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra,” said Tarriela.
Alexander Lopez, spokesman of the National Maritime Council (NMC), called China’s claim that its monster ship was conducting law enforcement duties within the jurisdictional waters of China “ridiculous and outrightly without legal basis.”
He also said the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra, in coordination with the AFP, continues to actively monitor the movements of Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5901.
“The CCG vessel has been challenged, and its presence and patrol activities being conducted within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone were deemed illegal. The CCG vessel was told to cease its activity and leave the area,” Lopez said.
“The claim by the CCG vessel, which asserts it is conducting law enforcement duties within what it considers the jurisdictional waters of the People’s Republic of China is ridiculous and outrightly without legal basis under international law, especially the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling,” he added.
Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino filed a resolution calling for an investigation into the recovery of a submersible drone in the waters of Barangay Inarawan, San Pascual, Masbate on December 30.
The inquiry, he said, will focus on its “origins, operational capabilities, and compliance with Philippine maritime laws.”
In Senate Resolution No. 1267, Tolentino said it is crucial to ascertain whether the submersible drone’s presence in Philippine waters constitutes violation of Philippine laws “considering its discovery inside our archipelagic waters over which the Philippines has sovereignty.”
“There is an urgency in determining the drone’s origins and its compliance with Philippine maritime laws, specifically the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (RA 12064) and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law (RA 12065) as its presence raises critical concerns regarding its origin and implication on our country’s territorial integrity and national security,” Tolentino said.
“If proven if the discovered submersible drone was used by a foreign state to conduct underwater surveillance, be it for military or as part of a marine scientific research without the consent of the Republic of the Philippines, the same constitute a violation of our sovereignty,” Tolentino said in the resolution.
“The drone was found deactivated and ongoing investigations (by the Philippine Navy) aim to determine its operational status and intent,” he added.
Three fishermen discovered the 12-foot submersible drone off the waters of barangay Inarawan, San Pascual, Masbate, which Brig. General Andre Dizon, chief of the Bicol Police Regional Office, said is indicative of a Chinese underwater navigation and communication system due to its markings.
Tolentino, in the resolution, said the newly-passed Philippine Maritime Zones Act provides that “foreign vessels have no navigational rights in the internal waters of the Philippines, unless expressly authorized by the Philippine government.”
“Section 10 of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act mandates that if the submersible drone was used for marine scientific research, the same must benefit the Filipino people and requires government authorization,” he said. – With Jocelyn Montemayor and Raymond Africa
