The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has strongly criticized China’s attempts to impose a “new order” as a justification for its illegal presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the WPS, lambasted the China Coast Guard (CCG) for conducting unlawful maritime operations near the Philippines’ coastline.
“Without needing to emphasize the key points of the 2016 Arbitral Award, which invalidated their nine-dash line claim, it’s evident that anyone with a sound mind, genuinely concerned about preserving peace and stability in the region, would acknowledge that their presence in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone is both barbaric and illegitimate,” Tarriela said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
Tarriela expressed concern over radio communications between a Chinese vessel and the PCG’s BRP Cabra, during which the Chinese side blatantly asserted jurisdiction over waters that are part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“It is clear that the Chinese Communist Party is disregarding international law while arrogantly asserting jurisdiction over these waters, which are well beyond the People’s Republic of China’s baseline,” he said.
He also criticized the CCG for its aggressive tactics, including threatening the PCG ship operating legally off the Zambales coast.
“Their threats against the legitimate presence of the Philippines conducting maritime patrols — warning that if we do not leave, they will take necessary measures and we will bear the consequences — clearly indicate China’s desire to impose a new order that undermines the rules-based international system,” Tarriela stated.
The commodore highlighted the broader implications of China’s incursions, noting that they escalate tensions and compromise regional peace and stability.
“They appear intent on reverting to a system where might dictates what is deemed right, allowing powerful countries to impose their interests at the expense of others’ rights and jurisdictions,” he added.
In an incident on Saturday, Tarriela condemned the CCG’s use of a long-range acoustic device (LRAD) against the PCG vessel.
“For the first time, CCG-3103 employed a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) to harass the Philippine Coast Guard vessel, attempting to deter proximity,” he revealed. He noted that the LRAD generates high-decibel sounds that can cause pain and hearing damage.
The CCG-3103 replaced CCG-3304 on Saturday afternoon as Beijing maintained its illegal patrols in Philippine waters. The so-called “Monster Ship” CCG-5901 appeared to escort the CCG-3103 during its incursion.
Despite these challenges, the PCG’s BRP Cabra successfully held its position between 90 and 95 nautical miles from the Philippine shoreline.
“This achievement is a testament to the vigilance and bravery of the men and women aboard BRP Cabra, who have shadowed the CCG at close distances while conducting hourly radio challenges to assert that the Chinese presence violates the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” Tarriela said.
He emphasized that the PCG remains committed to avoiding provocation and escalation in the WPS while continuing to assert the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its waters.