THE Philippines said Tuesday it was alarmed by Chinese coast guard patrols, which are growing closer to the country’s shore.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
The Philippines said China’s deployment this month of its biggest coast guard vessel demonstrated Beijing’s “increasing aggression” in the disputed waterway.
National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya talks during the Philippine Coast Guard press conference on the West Philippine Sea on Jan. 14, 2025. With him were Col. France Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesman; Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Navy and PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN
“It’s getting closer to the Philippine coastline… and that is alarming,” National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya told journalists Tuesday.
Chinese ships have been deployed closer to the Philippine coast this year, Malaya said, with the latest movements an “intimidation tactic” intended to discourage Filipino fishing.
“We do not and will not dignify these scare tactics by backing down. We do not waver or cower in the face of intimidation,” Malaya said.
The 165-meter (540-foot) ship, also known as “The Monster,” was last located 143 kilometers west of Capones Island in Zambales province.
Malaya said the Philippines had intensified its surveillance operations in the West Philippine Sea in response to the persistent presence of Chinese vessels.
“Our maritime domain awareness is now laser-focused on addressing the illegal presence of the Chinese Coast Guard vessel,” Malaya said during a press briefing.
“We are not tolerating their presence. We are challenging them every single day,” he said.
National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya talks during the Philippine Coast Guard press conference on the West Philippine Sea on Jan. 14, 2025. With him were Col. France Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesman; Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Navy and PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN
National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya talks during the Philippine Coast Guard press conference on the West Philippine Sea on Jan. 14, 2025. With him were Col. France Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesman; Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Navy and PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN
National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya talks during the Philippine Coast Guard press conference on the West Philippine Sea on Jan. 14, 2025. With him were Col. France Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesman; Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Navy and PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN
As of Tuesday, Philippine forces had entered their 11th consecutive day of monitoring the Chinese vessel.
Jay Tarriela, a Philippine Coast Guard spokesman, said “it doesn’t really carry out very aggressive action, but its mere presence is already concerning.”
The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed 84-meter and 97-meter vessels to pressure the Chinese ship “to move further away from the coast of Zambales,” Tarriela said.
Chinese patrol ships had come as close as 111 kilometers (69 miles) west of the main Philippine island of Luzon this year, Tarriela said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said its coast guard patrols are “in accordance with the law” and “beyond reproach.”
“We once again warn the Philippine side to immediately stop all infringement, provocation, and hyping, and stop all actions that undermine peace and tranquility in the South China Sea and complicate the situation,” Guo told a news conference.
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