The Philippines has “no means” to drive away China’s largest coast guard, The Monster Ship, from Philippine waters, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said, but emphasized that the country will maintain its presence in all of its maritime territory.
“We don’t have the means na paralysis. Hindi naman—but kung meron tayong aircraft carrier na may kasamang destroyer, frigate atsaka submarine na papupuntahin natin doon para matulak sila palayo. Wala naman tayong ganun (We don’t have the means to send them away. Not really—but if we had an aircraft carrier with accompanying destroyers, frigates, and submarines to send there to push them away, that would be possible. But we don’t have that),” Marcos told reporters in a press conference in Malacañang on Thursday.
Marcos admitted that the Philippines remains outnumbered by China when it comes to naval and coast guard ships positioned in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“Kung sa palakihan at paramihan lang ng barko, malayo tayo sa China (If it's just about the size and number of ships, we are far behind China),” he said.
He, however, stressed that the Philippines, through the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard, will continue to defend its sovereign territory and rights over its EEZ in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Anong bang mission ng coast guard? Ano bang mission ng navy? To protect the territorial integrity of the Philippines. So that’s what they will do. They will continue to do that no matter what any other foreign power does, that’s what we will do,” he said.
Marcos said the Philippines will continue to protect its maritime territory.
“When we detect the presence of a foreign vessel who is beginning to intrude or coming close already to our coastal waters, eh papupuntahan natin ng barko and we will challenge them,” he stressed.
“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,” he further stated.
Marcos warned that the Philippines will never leave its EEZ and other maritime territory despite all the harassment and intimidation from foreign powers.
“Kahit na banggain na yung barko natin, kahit na mag-water cannon sila. Mag-laser sila, kahit anong pang gawin nila, mag-block sila. Laging nandiyan ang Pilipinas (Even if they ram our ship, even if they use water cannons, use lasers, or do anything else, block us—the Philippines will always be there),” he said.
“We will always be there protecting our country, our territory. We will always be there making sure our fishermen are able to exercise their sovereign rights. Nand’yan lagi. That’s their mission and if their presence helps—kasi kung minsan napapaalis naman nila yung mga malalaking barko—that’s better. Then, they will achieve what they are supposed to do in patrolling our waters,” he added.
The Monster Ship's continuing presence, along with other Chinese vessels, has been monitored in the WPS since last month. These Chinese ships even sailed near the country’s coastlines off Zambales and Pangasinan.
The China Coast Guard’s largest vessel was also reportedly intimidating Filipino fishermen in the WPS and around Scarborough Shoal.The Philippines has “no means” to drive away China’s largest coast guard, The Monster Ship, from Philippine waters, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said, but emphasized that the country will maintain its presence in all of its maritime territory.
“We don’t have the means na paralysis. Hindi naman—but kung meron tayong aircraft carrier na may kasamang destroyer, frigate atsaka submarine na papupuntahin natin doon para matulak sila palayo. Wala naman tayong ganun (We don’t have the means to send them away. Not really—but if we had an aircraft carrier with accompanying destroyers, frigates, and submarines to send there to push them away, that would be possible. But we don’t have that),” Marcos told reporters in a press conference in Malacañang on Thursday.
Marcos admitted that the Philippines remains outnumbered by China when it comes to naval and coast guard ships positioned in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“Kung sa palakihan at paramihan lang ng barko, malayo tayo sa China (If it's just about the size and number of ships, we are far behind China),” he said.
He, however, stressed that the Philippines, through the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard, will continue to defend its sovereign territory and rights over its EEZ in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Anong bang mission ng coast guard? Ano bang mission ng navy? To protect the territorial integrity of the Philippines. So that’s what they will do. They will continue to do that no matter what any other foreign power does, that’s what we will do,” he said.
Marcos said the Philippines will continue to protect its maritime territory.
“When we detect the presence of a foreign vessel who is beginning to intrude or coming close already to our coastal waters, eh papupuntahan natin ng barko and we will challenge them,” he stressed.
“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,” he further stated.
Marcos warned that the Philippines will never leave its EEZ and other maritime territory despite all the harassment and intimidation from foreign powers.
“Kahit na banggain na yung barko natin, kahit na mag-water cannon sila. Mag-laser sila, kahit anong pang gawin nila, mag-block sila. Laging nandiyan ang Pilipinas (Even if they ram our ship, even if they use water cannons, use lasers, or do anything else, block us—the Philippines will always be there),” he said.
“We will always be there protecting our country, our territory. We will always be there making sure our fishermen are able to exercise their sovereign rights. Nand’yan lagi. That’s their mission and if their presence helps—kasi kung minsan napapaalis naman nila yung mga malalaking barko—that’s better. Then, they will achieve what they are supposed to do in patrolling our waters,” he added.
The Monster Ship's continuing presence, along with other Chinese vessels, has been monitored in the WPS since last month. These Chinese ships even sailed near the country’s coastlines off Zambales and Pangasinan.
The China Coast Guard’s largest vessel was also reportedly intimidating Filipino fishermen in the WPS and around Scarborough Shoal.