The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) reported on Wednesday the continued “illegal presence” of Chinese Coast Guard ships in at least three features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and WPS, even as lawmakers urged China to pull out its vessels and respect Philippine sovereignty.
At the same time, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana castigated China over its persistent illegal claims over the WPS and reiterated his demand that Chinese ships leave the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“China has no business telling the Philippines what we can and cannot do within our own waters. The arbitral award has categorically stated that the Chinese claim bounded by their so-called nine dash line according to their ‘historical right’ has no basis in fact,” Lorenzana said in a news statement released through Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio “Popong” Andolong.
“Therefore, it is they who are encroaching and should desist and leave. We will continue to do what is necessary to protect our sovereign rights,” he added.
Firm stand
The lawmakers likewise urged the Duterte administration to take a firm stand against China’s “invasion.”
Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez branded as “ridiculous” China’s statement for the Philippines to stop its maritime training exercises in the WPS being undertaken by the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and to “respect Chinese sovereignty” over the disputed sea.
“That statement is ridiculous. That area is part of our 200-mile exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the ruling of the UN arbitral court. We have every right to patrol it, conduct drills there and explore it for its fishery and other natural resources. But they are the ones taking tons and tons of fishes and destroying the environment there,” Rodriguez said.
‘Filing of appropriate actions’
The NTF-WPS said that five Chinese Coast Guard vessels were illegally moored at Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc), Ayungin Shoal and in the waters of Kalayaan municipality, incursions, the task force said, that are now “under review for possible filing of appropriate actions.”
“In response to the continued illegal presence of CCGs [Chinese Coast Guard], the PCG conducted maritime patrols in the Municipality of Kalayaan and BdM [Bajo de Masinloc], coinciding with its ongoing maritime capacity building exercises, Task Force Pagsasanay,” the NTF-WPS said.
The PCG has launched maritime training exercises beginning last week within the country’s EEZ with eight ships participating in the undertaking, and which will also take them to the waters of Batanes, at the Philippine Rise and to the eastern portion of the country.
China has called on the government to stop the exercises, reiterating its illegal claims that the waters where the maritime training is being undertaken are part of Beijing’s maritime territory.
Despite the presence of Chinese ships in the KIG and WPS, the NTF-WPS said the government would continue to undertake patrols in those areas in exercise of its sovereignty and “sovereign rights” under local and international laws.
“The PCG, Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Philippine National Police-Maritime Group are closely coordinating in the continuous regular deployment of vessels in the country’s maritime domain for law enforcement, monitoring, ensuring the safety of Filipino fishermen and protecting the environment,” said the NTF-WPS.
Monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) vessels and multi-mission offshore vessels (MMOVs) of the BFAR are currently deployed in the Municipality of Kalayaan and were collaborating with PCG vessels and aircraft deployed in the area.
The NTF-WPS said that members of the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group would also be deployed in Kalayaan by being “shipriders” aboard Philippine Navy, PCG and BFAR vessels.
The task force said the police’s maritime group is also readying the deployment of its high-speed tactical watercraft, police gunboats and fast boats.
“Our government shall not waiver in pursuing peaceful, rules-based and proactive initiatives on environmental protection, safety of navigation, maritime and food security within our maritime domains,” the NTF-WPS said.
Rodriguez said it is China that should not be in the WPS “because that is not part of their EEZ.”
“They should leave the WPS. They are the interloper,” he stressed.
Rodriguez also pointed out that the WPS is about 600 miles from China.
“In contrast, up north, Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc to Filipino fishermen, is just 120 miles off the coast of Zambales and Pangasinan. They are in control of it despite the fact that it is within our EEZ,” he said.
Down south, Julian Felipe Reef, which is 175 miles from Bataraza, Palawan, where they still maintain presence despite our repeated protests, “is also part of our EEZ,” he said.
“So they are claiming and occupying a large part of the sea that should exclusively belong to us under international law, and illegally taking resources from it. They are the ones complicating the situation, not us,” the House leader added.
Condemnation
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate asked the Duterte administration to strongly condemn China for harassing and taking the catch of Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc and other parts of the WPS.
“Send our Coast Guards now to escort our fishermen in the West Philippine Sea!” said Zarate.
“We call on the Duterte administration to send the Philippine Coast Guard, not just for momentary drills, but more importantly to accompany or escort our hapless fisherfolk at Bajo de Masinloc and in the other areas where we have valid claims in the West Philippine Sea. We have to show China that we are serious in defending our people as well as our territory. Our officials should always assert our independence, instead of them acting as apologists for China, who apparently now treat the Philippines as her vassal state,” he added.
Zarate also called on neighboring countries and fellow claimants like Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia together with the Philippines to band together and stand up against China’s invasion.
“We are not saying that we declare war on China. But what we need is for President Duterte to stand up for our fisherfolk and our territory. We have already suggested in the past the increasing of patrols of our seas, among others. One thing is clear though, the government must do something now to stop this invasion of China,” he added.
Image credits: AP