A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel that took part in a maritime training exercise that went on patrol in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) challenged Chinese maritime militia (CMM) ships within the country’s exclusive economic zone, prompting the vessels to leave.
At the same time, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) protested the blocking and dangerous maneuvers made by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) against two other PCG ships at the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough shoal).
Four PCG ships and four vessels from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) manned also by PCG personnel conducted two weeks of sea training exercises in the WPS at the Batanes waters and in the eastern portion of the country last month.
National Security Adviser and NTF-WPS Chairman Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said PCG vessels BRP Cabra and two BFAR vessels went to Sabina Shoal on April 27, both for maritime exercises and law-enforcement operations.
Upon their arrival at the shoal, located 130 nautical miles, west of Puerto Princesa City, the ships sighted seven CMM vessels that are in “stationary linear formation,” prompting the BRP Cabra to issue a series of challenges to the Chinese ship, but got no response.
“After around 20 minutes, however, the CMMs vessels dispersed and left the shoal after being challenged by BRP Cabra,” the NTF-WPS said in a news statement signed by Esperon himself.
A separate statement issued by the Coast Guard, through its spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo, said that BRP Cabra informed the CMM vessels that they were within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and asked them to identify their markings during the challenges.
“This is the Philippine Coast Guard BRP Cabra [MRRV-4409]. You are within Philippine exclusive economic zone. You are requested to provide the following: name of vessel, intention, last and next port of call on channel 16,” Balilo quoted one of the challenges issued by Cabra.
The NTF-WPS said that two days later, or on 29 April 2021, the BRP Cabra returned to Sabina Shoal and again observed five CMM ships that have left the area upon the arrival of the PCG ship.
“The NTF-WPS emphasizes that the maritime exercises and patrols routinely conducted by the PCG and BFAR are part of the maritime law-enforcement activities of its member-agencies in the exercise of Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights over our territorial seas and EEZ, respectively,” the task force said.
“The Philippines is not deterred from defending our national interest, patrimony, and our dignity as a people with all that we have,” it added.
At the same time, the NTF-WPS welcomed the diplomatic protests filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) against the illegal Chinese activities in the country’s territory and its EEZ, while condemning the dangerous maneuvers made by the CCG against PCG vessels BRP Gabriela Silang and BRP Sindangan.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the shadowing, blocking, dangerous maneuvers and radio challenges conducted by the Chinese Coast Guard [CCG] against PCG vessels BRP Gabriela Silang and BRP Sindangan, during legitimate law- enforcement patrols and maritime exercises while in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc on 24-25 April 2021, as a violation of our sovereignty,” the task force said.
The two PCG ships were sailing toward the area along with a BFAR vessel to enforce Philippine fisheries laws and protect Filipino fishermen when the incident happened.
Image credits: Bloomberg