By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Apparently emboldened by the “gentleman’s agreement” between former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the China Coast Guard (CCG) has continued its harassments on Philippine vessels.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, on Monday said a CCG vessel has been “monitoring, tailing” the  National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) vessel BRP Hydrographer Ventura and its Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) escort BRP Gabriela Silang, which have been conducting a week-long hydrographic survey in the north-western Luzon area.

“Hindi totoo ‘yong sinasabi ng China na they are only deploying their vessels on those areas na hindi tayo nagho-honor ng gentleman’s agreement,” Tarriela told reporters in a press briefing.

Duterte has admitted having a “gentleman’s agreement” with Xi to keep the “status quo” at Ayungin Shoal, where the rusty BRP Sierra Madre is grounded since 1999 during the administration of then President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada.

This developed even as US President Joe Biden is seeking $128 million in congressional allocation budget to execute projects for Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines.

“It just goes to show na ang China Coast Guard, nagde-deploy din sila in other areas sa exclusive economic zone natin para i-impose ‘yong paniniwala nila na legitimate ang nine-dash line,” Tarriela said.

The PCG official maintained the Philippines’ right to  carry out research in its territory within the 200-nautical miles exclusive economic zone, as ruled by the 2016 arbitral award.

“And yet, China Coast Guard vessel is there monitoring our presence within our own exclusive economic zone that is like 650 nautical miles away from them,” he lamented.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Filipino fishermen have experienced harassment from the China Coast Guard (CCG) in Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales, which is the southeast entrance of the Scarborough Shoal.

This was confirmed on Sunday by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriela who said they have tracked the origin of the videos circulating online which showed personnel from the CCG accosting Filipino fishermen after the latter were spotted collecting sea shells in the area.

“The PCG has successfully identified the origin of the videos and has taken steps to gather sworn statements from the individuals involved,” Tarriela claimed.

He said that based on the testimony of a certain Jack Tabat, five CCG personnel on board a rubber boat approached them.

Four of them disembarked the rubber boat and went after the Filipino fishermen, Tabat said.

“Mr. Jack Tabat from Zambales has admitted that the video came from their boat, FB Legendary Jo. According to his statement, on 12 January 2024, Filipino fishermen who were collecting sea shells near the South entrance of BDM experienced harassment from the China Coast Guard. The fishermen were instructed to return the shells they had gathered to the sea and were subsequently driven away,” Tarriela said.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Following the expression of concern of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock over the reported harassment of China Coast Guard on Filipino vessels, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning has stood firm in China’s commitment to handle disputes through dialogue and “to work with ASEAN countries to safeguard peace and stability in the region.”

On Thursday (January 11), Mao reiterated China’s clear and consistent position on the South China Sea issue, emphasizing dialogue and consultation for dispute resolution while prioritizing the safeguarding of peace, stability, territorial sovereignty, and maritime rights and interests.

“China’s position on the South China Sea issue is clear and consistent. We are committed to properly handling disputes through dialogue and consultation with the countries concerned and would like to work with ASEAN countries to safeguard peace and stability in the region. That said, China will firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Mao stressed.

Earlier, Baerbock — who was on an official visit to the Philippines — noted the incidents over the recent months wherein the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) has used lasers and water cannons against Philippine resupply vessels and collision incidents.

Such incidents “concern us in Europe even though we are thousands of kilometers away,” Baerbock quipped.

However, China has remained adamant in its claims of sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, pointing to a line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.

To recall, in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague said China’s claims had no legal basis.

China has strongly thrashed that ruling ever since.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Apparently challenging the Filipino patience, the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) ships on Saturday, December 9, water cannoned and subjected three Philippine vessels off Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the three vessels — BRP Datu Sanday, BRP Datu Bankaw and BRP Datu Tamblot — belonged to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that were on a mission to provide oil subsidies and grocery packs to over 30 Filipino fishing vessels in the area.

In reaction, US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson saying the Chinese ships’ behavior “violates international law and endangers lives and livelihood.”

To recall, in October, US President Joe Biden warned that the US will defend the Philippines in case of any attack.

Based on reports, the “harassment” started at about 9 a.m. Saturday as the BFAR ships approached Bajo de Masinloc, which was about 1.4 to 1.9 nautical miles away.

It was gathered that the CCG ships began utilizing water cannons in an effort to “obstruct and prevent” the Philippine vessels from approaching the Filipino fishing boats.

However, China maintained that its coast guard had lawfully taken control measures against three BFAR vessels “intruding” into waters near Scarborough Shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island.

An international tribunal had earlier invalidated China’s claim to 90% of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing does not recognize the ruling and has been building islands in the disputed waters in recent years.

(AI/MNM)

US legislators from both sides of the aisle have come together to denounce the China Coast Guard (CCG) for its unlawful actions in the West Philippine Sea and its violations of international law.

The most recent incident occurred on October 22 when a CCG vessel collided with a boat under contract by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to deliver supplies to Filipino troops stationed in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

The United States House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) released a bipartisan statement in solidarity with the Philippines on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

The statement, which the US Embassy shared in Manila, reads: “We unequivocally support the Philippines and condemn the unlawful actions by the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the South China Sea.”

The statement was jointly issued by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (Republican-Texas), Gregory Meeks (Democrat-New York), along with Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Chairman Young Kim (Republican-California) and Ami Bera (Democrat-California).

They expressed their concern over the intentional collisions between CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels with Philippine Coast Guard ships, which put Filipino crew members at risk and obstructed Philippine vessels’ access to their own exclusive economic zone. They emphasized that this incident was part of a broader pattern of aggressive and provocative actions by the People’s Liberation Army Navy, the Maritime Militia, and the China Coast Guard in the South China Sea, where they frequently intrude into the exclusive economic zones of other states.

The lawmakers further voiced their condemnation of Beijing’s maritime intimidation. They welcomed the Biden administration’s commitment to increasing joint patrols with the Philippines and other partners in the South China Sea. They also reaffirmed the United States’ commitment under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

On Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) filed a diplomatic protest against China in response to its coast guard’s recent “dangerous maneuvers” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

(Liezelle Soriano/ai/mnm)