Do not for a moment even think that we’ve practically given up defending our national sovereignty and territorial integrity in the disputed part of the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea where we have our Exclusive Economic Zone.
In fact, the Philippine Coast Guard is always on its toes and even intensifying patrols in the West Philippine Sea despite huge limitations in terms of vessels, equipment and personnel.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, said as much when he appeared before a media forum in Quezon City recently.
According to the Coast Guard official, they have taken a new approach in addressing the maritime dispute in the WPS: making public the acts of harassment and bullying by the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia in our EEZ.
The PCG is carrying out constant patrols in the area not only to protect our fishermen who have been plying their trade in their traditional fishing grounds for generations, but also to serve notice to Beijing that we are asserting our sovereignty over our EEZ recognized no less by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.
China is a signatory to UNCLOS, but claims ownership of practically the whole of the South China Sea on the basis of a so-called “nine-dash line” that is nothing a figment of its own imagination.
While our Department of Foreign Affairs has diligently sent hundreds of notes verbale to their counterpart in Beijing protesting China’s aggressive actions in the vital sea lane over the years, these have been haughtily dismissed by the emerging regional superpower, Tarriela observed. But when the harassment and bullying by the China Coast Guard are made public, Beijing makes it a point “to explain and justify their actions.”
The Philippine Coast Guard wants to modernize its fleet as it has only three offshore patrol vessels and 10 multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) deployed in the WPS.
This is not enough as recent reports indicate that the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia disguised as ordinary fishing boats numbering 20 to 30 at any given time have employed a “swarming” strategy to keep foreign vessels from intruding into its claimed territory.
“That’s why we have been pressing our legislators to support Coast Guard modernization for us to acquire more assets,” Tarriela said.
Apart from vessels, he said, the PCG needs aircraft and maritime domain awareness capabilities such as radar areas and lighthouses, as well as additional port facilities for their ships.
The PCG fully supports joint patrols with the United States Coast Guard as both share the same functions, such as upholding maritime safety, protecting the marine environment and conducting maritime law enforcement.
The talks, however, are still at an “infancy stage.”
Until then, the PCG is committed “to comply with the directive of our President that no square inch of our territory will be surrendered to any foreign power.”