MANILA – At least five Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ships remained in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite several diplomatic protests filed against China over the illegal presence of its vessels in the country’s territory.
In a statement on Wednesday, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said three Chinese vessels were in Bajo de Masinloc (BdM) and two more in the waters of Kalayaan in Palawan and Ayungin Shoal.
“The Area Task Forces spotted those Chinese vessels and these incursions are under review for the possible filing of appropriate diplomatic actions,” the NTF-WPS said based on their monitoring from April 15 to 22.
Despite the presence of Chinese vessels, there were no direct incidents reported between the CCG and Filipino fishermen during that time.
However, it prompted the Area Task Forces to designate naval vessels and military aircraft to conduct regular sovereignty patrols on a rotational basis over the Municipality of Kalayaan, BdM, and the rest of the country’s western seaboard.
Personnel from the Philippine National Police- Maritime Group will be deployed to the Municipality of Kalayaan and assigned as shipriders aboard vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
NTF-WPS also reminded all the stakeholders in the region of their respective commitments made in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. It also underscored the “importance of diplomacy and sincere discussion in exploring areas of cooperation especially on marine environmental protection in the area.”
For weeks Foreign Affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Defense secretary Delfin Lorenza called China to pull out its ships in the Philippine territory, but China remained unbothered as it continues to set aside the 2016 landmark ruling of the arbitral tribunal in The Hague./PN
