China squatter in WPS
By J.Lo
"Illegal occupation is on their end…if Philippines occupied Hainan Island, that would be an illegal occupation... but they're ones within our 200-mile EEZ…they're squatters…they're illegal occupants here," Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro accused China during Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum of being "squatter" in West Philippine Sea, citing Chinese presence within Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Teodoro was responding to accusations made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning earlier Philippines illegally occupied Pag-asa Island.
"I don't want to laugh at accusation because it would be disrespectful..maybe we should ask what they meant…they might say they have indisputable sovereignty over South China Sea…but how many would believe that?" Teodoro said.
Pag-asa Island is 174 miles west of Palawan and is home to small Filipino civilian community.
It is among islands and reefs within South China Sea China claims to be part of its territory despite 2016 arbitration case Philippines won before Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
Chinese government has been defending how its naval forces have been hounding island, with Chinese ships harassing Philippine vessels on multiple occasions.
Teodoro could no longer say recent attempt of Chinese ship to cut off Philippine navy vessel near Pag-asa Island " isolated incident."
"On my end, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's instructions are whatever happens… we will never stop with our operations in West Philippine Sea, they could apply for visa. ..Bureau of Immigration would surely give them one… I'm clueless as to why they won't apply," he said.
Aside from its recent acquisition of 40 patrol boats, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will be procuring two 19-seater airplanes to intensify maritime domain awareness over West Philippine Sea and in search and rescue (SAR) missions.
"These two new airplanes would also complement our water patrol operations in WPS," PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said.
PCG had already approved procurement of two airplanes, and soon will undergo bidding to determine from which supplier or company they would buy their new air assets.
It is allocating P1.6 billion for acquisition of planes.
They are expediting procurement process and intend to award contract before end of the year. "Hopefully, two planes would be delivered in two years," Balilo said.
PCG currently only has two airplanes, Islander and Cessna.
Meanwhile, Coast Guard official also said of 40 units of 15-meter patrol presently being constructed at shipyard in Cebu, three have so far been completed and delivered to PCG.
"Construction of these patrol boats would be quick…maybe by third quarter of next year all 40 boats would already be complete," he said.
Balilo said boats will be deployed to their sub-stations, including those in WPS area, to boost their capability in law enforcement activities and SAR activities. "These boats move fast and could easily be maneuvered."
Currently, their sub-stations in WPS only have 5-meter aluminum boats at their disposal.
"Some of these new boats would be assigned to augment capabilities of our stations in West Philippine Sea such as Pag-asa Island, Lawak Island, Likas Island and Panatag Shoal and in areas where we have installed navigational buoys," he said.
PCG had so far placed total of 10 navigational buoys, one each at Likas Island, Lawak Island, Parola Island, Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island and Juan Felipe Reef and two near Pag-asa Island.
Sharp increase in operational behavior of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in East and South China Seas represents significant concern, United States defense official said.
"PLA's coercive and risky behavior, like kind department is highlighting today, seeks to intimidate and coerce members of international community into giving up their rights under international law," said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner.
Since 2021, he said there were more than 180 incidents involving PLA fighter jets engaging in such behavior, "more in the past two years than in decade before that."
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