3 weeks ago
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Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star
February 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Despite a close encounter between aircraft of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the People’s Liberation Army-Navy of China, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) declared it would sustain its efforts to assert the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea.
Last Feb. 18, a PLA-Navy helicopter flew toward the portside of the BFAR’s Cessna Caravan plane to a distance of nearly three meters.
PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela, the agency’s spokesman on West Philippine Sea issues, denounced the “recklessness” of the Chinese aircraft, saying it “posed a serious risk to the safety of the pilots and passengers during the (maritime domain awareness flight).”
“In terms of the level of danger. for me this is the most dangerous,” he said during a media briefing last Wednesday, noting the high level of danger caused by the Chinese aircraft.
He maintained that flying of Philippine aircraft particularly over Bajo de Masinloc, also called Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, was part of the Philippines’ assertion of sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea covered by the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
Tarriela said it would be up to the Department of Foreign Affairs to file a diplomatic protest as a response to the incident report prepared and filed before the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea.
“We may not expect China to change its behavior. We will keep on filing diplomatic protests, an important procedure that we need to do to tell the international community that we are against such aggression by China,” he said.
Tarriela refused to discuss plans on deployment of assets like patrol ships and aircraft moving forward being “operational details,” but said “we can probably deploy PCG and BFAR aircraft together.”
US condemns ‘reckless’ China actions
The United States, meanwhile, reaffirmed yesterday its support for the Philippines and condemned the “reckless” actions of the Chinese Navy helicopter against a Philippine aircraft.
In a statement, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce condemned the “unsafe and irresponsible actions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy to interfere with a Philippine maritime air operation in the vicinity of Scarborough Reef.”
A proxy war?
Meanwhile, a congressman said Filipinos may have to decide between what he described as Team Philippines and Team China when they cast their votes in May.
House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V made the observation based on the latest OCTA Research survey showing that more Filipinos support the administration, which vowed not to yield an inch of territory to China, compared to the pro-Beijing stance of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“The survey results confirm that the political battle is no longer just about personalities – it’s about Team Pilipinas versus Team China,” the first district congressman of La Union pointed out.
“This survey confirms that Filipinos are firmly standing with Team Pilipinas, rejecting leaders who have compromised the nation for China – whether by surrendering our rights in the West Philippine Sea or enabling the unchecked rise of POGOs (Philippine offshore gaming operators) controlled by Chinese interests,” he said.
The Tugon ng Masa survey, conducted by OCTA from Jan. 25 to 31 this year, showed that 36 percent of Filipinos support Marcos, while only 18 percent back Duterte. Meanwhile, 26 percent support neither, and eight percent align with the opposition.
Vote for pro-West Philippine Sea
The Akbayan party-list urged voters to protect the West Philippines Sea by voting only for pro-WPS candidates in the midterm elections.
“With the upcoming midterm elections, Filipino voters should also actively participate in protecting the West Philippine Sea. Our citizens should not fall into China’s trap of electing officials who will forward foreign interests,” Akbayan said.
Akbayan said voters should subject candidates to a four-way test.
“Candidates should have no alignment with Duterte’s pro-China policies, a strong track record of championing our historic 2016 arbitral ruling, support for our fisherfolk and frontliners against Chinese aggression,” Akbayan said.
Akbayan also said voters should only choose candidates with concrete proposals to demilitarize the West Philippine Sea and promote sustainable development.
Meanwhile, Akbayan and Atin Ito coalition asked yesterday President Marcos to issue an executive order for the mandatory teaching of geography, history and struggle around the West Philippine Sea issue.
In a joint statement, the group sounded the alarm on the heightening campaign of aggression by China, especially its efforts to disseminate traitorous narratives and disinformation among the Filipino public. – Pia Lee-Brago, Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano
