Phl remains unfazed despite China’s punches over WPS claims

No hurtful punches from China could stop the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) from performing their mandates to secure and protect the country’s sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

This was proclaimed by the AFP and PCG on Friday after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized that the Philippines will remain resolute in maintaining its presence in the WPS despite the increasing confrontations with China.

Marcos touted the Philippine Navy and the PCG’s capabilities to detect and monitor the presence of foreign vessels inside the country’s maritime territories, despite being outnumbered.

He also warned that Philippine ships will continue to challenge foreign vessels illegally intruding in the WPS.

“We will make sure that they know that what they are doing is illegal. Of course, they will counter by saying they are doing regular law enforcement patrols, but they always find the Philippine presence no matter what they do,” Marcos said.

For PCG spokesperson for the WPS, Commodore Jay Tarriela, the recent remarks of the President, saying “we don’t have the means to drive away” China’s monster ship in Philippine waters, should be interpreted as a strong message that the country is determined to defend its EEZ with whatever limited resources it currently possesses.

“I don't think that the President is saying that we can't do it. As what we saw for the past day since January 4, the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua has vigilantly challenged and driven away the China Coast Guard monster ship from 54 nautical miles, which was initially monitored, now to as far as 110 to 120 nautical miles,” Tarriela told reporters in a virtual press briefing on Friday.

He added, “The mere fact that we can do this means we can do so.”

Tarriela said Marcos emphasized that despite the country’s current capabilities, the PCG would still require significant modernization and additional acquisitions to become more effective.

“Well, first of all, the President just wants to show that really, despite our limited number of Coast Guard assets, the Philippine government under his leadership still is carrying out our patriotic duty of fighting and standing firm for our position in the West Philippine Sea,” he explained.

He said the President’s statement, mentioning the country’s limited naval assets, could have been a reminder to Filipino lawmakers to support the PCG’s modernization program.

“I think the silver lining of the statement is again, to inform the Filipino people that we are committed to carrying out our patriotic duty in the West Philippine Sea.”

Tarriela also emphasized that, despite having a limited number of vessels, the PCG is still able to operate effectively.

“Well, you can probably see, despite our limited 97-meter and 44-meter vessels, we are strategically deploying our vessels, not just primarily focusing in one area,” he said.

“For example, our main concern right now is off the coast of Zambales. We are thinly spreading our assets to cover the entire West Philippine Sea. Of course, we also have deployment up north. We also have deployment in Palawan and in other parts of the Kalayaan Island Group,” he pressed on.

On the other hand, AFP Public Affairs Chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the military is determined to protect national sovereignty and preserve territorial integrity, employing all available resources while fully complying with international law.

“Even with limited resources compared to other foreign powers, the AFP, together with the Philippine Coast Guard and other government agencies, will continue to assert our rights and fulfill our mandate of protecting our people and territory,” Trinidad told the DAILY TRIBUNE in a Viber message on Friday.

Trinidad emphasized that the AFP “remains unwavering” in its efforts to enhance defense capabilities through sustained modernization, cooperative activities with like-minded nations, and proactive maritime patrols to secure Philippine waters.