We need to make a stand

The BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) chasing away Chinese warship number 189 when it entered our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) near El Nido, Palawan is all over the news. It sailed into Marie Louise Bank 309 nautical miles from Palawan. The captain of the BRP Cabra issued a verbal warning with the use of a long-range acoustic device and followed it until it exited our EEZ. With BRP Cabra coming a bit close to the Chinese warship, they were told via radio to be two nautical miles away from them. BRP Cabra is the same ship that drove away Chinese and Vietnamese fishing vessels when they entered the same area. We can be proud of the crew of the BRP Cabra when they stood their ground in asserting our rights to protect our EEZ.

This is what should be done by the Philippine Coast Guard. Guard our oceans. We have to stand up for what we are fighting for, our rights, our territory. We have won our case before the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration even though China does not recognize it. That's a lot to be said about our "friend" China. I believe it is not in China's good interest to get into any kind of armed altercation with us at sea, especially since we currently have an agreement with the US, the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). President Rodrigo Duterte recently stated he wanted a dialogue with US officials regarding the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which is needed to enforce the MDT. Without the VFA the MDT cannot be enforced. Duterte has threatened to cancel the VFA several times but has yet to do so. His advisers may have asked him to reconsider. Should that meeting happen I hope Duterte decides on behalf of the good of the country and based on whatever personal issues he has with the US. America is a long-time ally and we need the aforementioned agreements if only to augment our defenses in the event of an unfortunate situation.

The Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy are both sorely lacking in ships to patrol and defend our vast EEZ. While modernization of both services is underway it will take time before those ships are delivered. We cannot match China's armed forces and we are not trying to. That being said, our territory is ours to protect and benefit from. When it comes to sovereignty, we have the moral ascendancy to stop these incursions. I am proud of the captain and crew of the BRP Cabra. There truly is no shortage of courage among our men in uniform.