Año says markers ensure free, safe navigation
NATIONAL Security Adviser Eduardo Año wants the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to install more buoys in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea for navigation safety and to assert the country’s sovereign rights in the area.
Año, also chairman of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, issued the remarks yesterday at the South Harbor in Manila as he commended PCG personnel who installed buoys in five features in the WPS last week.
The buoys were installed at Patag, Panata and Kota islands and Julian Felipe and Balagtas reefs. The three islands are among nine areas occupied by Filipino troops in the WPS while the the two reefs are unoccupied.
In May last year, the PCG also installed buoys at Lawak, Likas, Parola and Pag-asa islands, which are all occupied by military troops. Pag-asa Islands serves as the seat of government of Kalayaan town, Palawan.
“These cardinal buoys will indicate the direction of safe waters to prevent passing ships from running aground in these shallow areas,” said Año, a former Armed Forces chief.
“Consequently, the installation of buoys with Philippine flags further signifies the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over our EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” added Año.
Año noted the installation of the buoys in the WPS last year and last week all occurred during the time of PCG commandant Adm. Artemio Abu who is due to reach the retirement age of 56 in October this year.
“Please do not sit on your laurels yet. I earnestly hope that the PCG continues to deploy buoys in other maritime features in the WPS throughout the remainder of your term, Art (Abu),” said Año.
“Let us show that we are for safe, secure and free navigation. More importantly, (to show) that we are serious and determined to protect and defend our rights, territory and sovereignty,” said Año.
Año said the installation of these buoys “underscores our adherence to global status,” specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which provides coastal states, such as the Philippines, the right to manage their 200-mile EEZ.
“As a responsible coastal state, we are fulfilling our commitment under international law to install and maintain these aids to navigation that assist vessels in safe passage in our waters,” said Año.
Año said the installation of the buoys does not benefit only Philippine government vessels but also those from neighboring countries, stressing these buoys promote “safe and efficient maritime trade and commerce.”
“More significantly, utilizing the PCG ships in dropping buoys in the contested waters reinforces the Philippines’ commitment to promoting peace, stability, cooperation, and the rule of law in the region,” said Año.
He said the installation of the buoys would have sent a “negative signal messaging to other countries” if they were not done by a civilian law enforcement agency, referring to the PCG.
“Your legal mandates have allowed us to substantiate that your mission is for the benefit of all countries passing these waters, and not just a unilateral action of further advancing occupancy – one which is not based on brute force but rather buttressed by international and domestic laws,” said Año .
Año gave the assurance that national government agencies, including the Armed Forces, are supporting the PCG “in navigating a highly volatile and ever-complex security environment, scaling up its operations in various efforts, and ultimately in making certain that we continue to sail on to more serene seas and sunnier horizons.”
‘REPERCUSSIONS’
Vice Adm. Joseph Coyme, commander of the PCG’s Maritime Safety Services Command and concurrent commander of the PCG Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan, said in a radio interview there will be “serious repercussions “ if China removes the buoys.
Coyme said the buoys, installed from May 10 to 12, were still in their places based on aerial surveillance conducted on May 13, along with the buoys installed in four other WPS areas last year.
In the event Chinese militia vessels remove the buoys, Coyme said: “If we have evidence that they deliberately take out our installed buoys, we which we believe are legitimate, there will be serious repercussions.”
“What we need to do is to produce necessary evidence and forward them to the (task force)… It’s up to them to take action as far as diplomatic concerns.”
Coyme could not immediately say what “serious repercussions” may arise if China removes the buoys installed by the PCG.
“At my level, I cannot say. I don’t’ want to assume… But on our part on the ground, we will just produce evidence and report it immediately to DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.”
China is claiming almost the entire South China Sea and has been aggressive in its claim in the past years despite a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 nullifying its claim.
Coyme, at the “Laging Handa” public briefing, said the PCG is planning to install additional buoys in the WPS. He declined to give details “for operational security purposes.
“We need to discuss this thoroughly, of course, in consultation with the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
COMPLEX ENVIRON
Navy chief Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr, in a TV interview, said the maritime environment in the West Philippine Sea has become “complex.”
“Nations have resorted to the use of white ships, I’m referring to coast guard ships, to execute their territorial claims, and that blurs the distinction between the Navy and the Coast Guard,” said Adaci.
Adaci said the NTF-WPS is discussing how to deal with “gray zone operations,” referring to China’s actions that are “below the threshold of war but are in pursuit of their intent (to assert claim).”
“We have to also come up with approaches to counter these gray zone tactics… I believe we are in the midst of discussion on how to deal with them… Our National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea is addressing that, through other agencies of our government,” said Adaci.
Adaci said the military’s operational command, AFP Western Command (Westcom), is maintaining its presence in the WPS, through the conduct of routine patrol.
He said the military is mandated by the Constitution “to protect the sovereignty of our state and secure the integrity of national territory,” and through naval patrols, “we ensure that we perform our mandate.”
Adaci said there are more Navy ships assigned with Westcom now than before “so they (Westcom officials) have more options to utilize, so they can increase the patrols.”
Adaci did not give figures but said the number of Navy ships under Westcom is “just right.” He added: “There are more ships there now so they can patrol more frequently.”
FUNDS FOR BUOYS
Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the PCG should procure more buoys and to include funding for those markers in its budget proposal to the Department of Budget and Management and Congress.
He also urged the PCG to install more buoys “in the entire breadth of the WPS, from the northern part of the country in the Ilocos region to the south in the Palawan area, because that is the extent of Philippine territorial waters China is claiming.”
Rodriguez said the Coast Guard should place buoys near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, which is about 120 miles from Zambales and Pangasinan and a traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen from the two provinces.
China seized Scarborough Shoal in 2012 after a standoff between the Chinese Coast Guard and the PCG.
“That (Scarborough Shoal) is clearly part of our EEZ, and yet China is occupying it. The Chinese Coast Guard routinely harass our fishermen there,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also said the markers “should serve as a warning to the Chinese and other foreign powers that those are a demarcation of our 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under international law.”
“China should leave that area. They have no business occupying certain islets and sea features there,” he said adding the PCG should ask help from the Philippine Navy in placing the buoys. — With Wendell Vigilia
