Never back down

The so-called "monster ship" of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) has been going back and forth near Zambales. The said ship recently left the waters off Zambales but was immediately replaced by a smaller CCG ship. Small for the CCG but still bigger than the largest ship of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The replacement ship was only 60.4 nautical miles from the Zambales coastline. That's too close for an unwanted ship to be near the country. Remember that our Exclusive Economic Zone is at 200 nautical miles.

The BRP Garbriela Silang sent a radio challenge to the replacement ship. According to the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, it seems that the CCG vessels deliberately sail between 60-70 nautical miles from the country which according to him is illegal. The CCG itself says they are conducting maritime patrols and not freedom of navigation. That is, they claim the entire ocean that is not covered by the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Philippines. So, when you are 13 nautical miles from the coast of the Philippines, you are essentially in China. That's what they say.

Tarriela understands the frustration and annoyance of many citizens that the PCG only issues radio challenges every time a CCG ship approaches the country. He said an ultimatum or threat will not come from them. That is not the mandate of the PCG. But National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya is concerned. These actions of the CCG are to intimidate our fishermen who just want to make a living. I believe it isn’t only the fishermen they are intimidating.

Incidents like this in the West Philippine Sea can run your patience dry. You can't blame some for calling for stronger action against the CCG. I'm sure the PCG personnel are also clenching their teeth, but nothing can be done because President Bongbong Marcos Jr. also ordered not to escalate the situation. For now, we can only continue our ocean patrols and call out to the CCG ships that what they are doing is illegal. But what we must never do is back down and retreat from CCG bullying. We may lack more powerful and modern equipment, but we do not lack courage. We will also have to wait and see what the new administration of US President Trump will do regarding relations with the country and actions in the West Philippine Sea. We know he will defend Taiwan in case of Chinese aggression. But will he do the same for our country?