GOVERNMENT yesterday demanded that China withdraw its so-called “monster ship” which has been illegally operating off Zambales, or in West Philippine Sea in the South China, for over a week now.
Jonathan Malaya, assistant director of the National Security Council (NSC) and spokesman of the National Task Force West Philippine Sea, also said the government is open to asking help from foreign allies like the United States and Japan in driving away China Coast Guard vessel 5901.
“We’re keeping our options open,” he said in a press briefing but did not elaborate.
Malaya said the presence of the Chinese vessel some 77 nautical miles from Zambales is “unacceptable.”
“Therefore, (it) should be withdrawn immediately by the Chinese government,” he said.
Malaya said the presence of China Coast Guard vessel 5901 is “illegal and inconsistent with the exercise of freedom of navigation and innocent passage.”
“It is clearly a provocative act. It is also a clear attempt to intimidate our fishermen and deprive them of their legitimate livelihood,” he said.
“It is an escalation (of the tension) and (is) provocative. The presence of the monster ship… is clearly not acceptable,” he added.
Malaya said the government will continue to protect its national interest, noting the presence of the Chinese vessel off Zambales is being continuously challenged by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
“The National Maritime Council (NMC) already called for the withdrawal of this monster ship from Philippine waters. The NMC issued a statement yesterday asking the Chinese government to withdraw this monster ship because it is clearly an illegal presence in our waters,” said Malaya.
On the Philippines being open to seeking help from the US and other foreign allies, Malaya added, “Now the ball is in the court of the PRC (People’s Republic of China). We have already requested very clearly and made a demand for them to withdraw the monster ship. So let’s see what their response will be.”
On whether the government is considering filing a case against China for violation of the country’s maritime zones law, Malaya said: “We are keeping all our options open because the presence of the monster ship is really unacceptable. It is a provocative act. It is increasing tensions in the region.”
Malaya said China is “pushing us to the wall.”
“As I said, all options are on the table because the closer the monster ship is in Philippine waters, the more it makes tensions high. And the more the Philippine government contemplates things it was not contemplating before,” said Malaya.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said that as of yesterday morning, the monster ship was some 77 nautical miles from Capones Island in Zambales.
“As of this time, we have two Coast Guard vessels pushing the Chinese Coast Guard 5901 further away from the coast of Zambales,” said Tarriela.
He said two PCG vessels, BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Gabriela Silang, continue to push the monster ship further away from Zambales.
BRP Teresa Magbanua was briefly pulled out from the area on Monday due to overheating. It was sent back to Zambales after undergoing repair in Bataan.
“It is not a serious derangement, it was just a very minor one … It went back to the location of China Guard 5901 (after the repair),” he said.
RED LINES
The Armed Forces has contingency measures should China conduct land reclamation at the contested Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, about 124 nautical miles from Zambales.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the government has four “red lines” in the West Philippine Sea.
“One of these is the no reclamation on Bajo de Masinloc,” Trinidad told a press briefing at the West Philippine Sea Transparency Group Office in Manila.
China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels. Since then, the Chinese have prevented Filipinos from fishing inside the shoal’s lagoon.
“It’s a red line. It’s non-negotiable for them to conduct any structural reclamation on Bajo de Masinloc,” said Trinidad.
Trinidad said the military establishment has measures in place to address such concern. He did not give details.
The military is at the forefront of protecting the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea