MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has rejected the proposal for Philippine vessels to use water cannons in defending the country’s territory.
According to the Chief Executive, he does not want to aggravate the already tense situation in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) following the China Coast Guard’s harassments on Philippine vessels.
“No. What we are doing is defending our sovereign rights and our sovereignty in the WPS,” President Marcod said in an ambush interview during the 2024 GOCC Day on Monday.
“We have no intention of attacking anyone with water cannons or any other such offensive,” he added. “The last thing we would like is to raise the tensions in the WPS.”
Authorities said last week’s water cannon attack by China in Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc damaged Philippine vessels bringing food and fuel to fishermen in the area.
This prompted Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Sen. Robin Padilla to suggest the use of water cannons to counter China’s attacks.
The Philippines and China have repeatedly locked horns in recent months at the Scarborough Shoal, which is in its exclusive economic zone.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China’s claims had no legal basis. Beijing, however, refused to recognize the ruling./PN
