PCG presence needed should Chinese persist in water cannon attacks - DND chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 27): PCG presence needed should Chinese persist in water cannon attacks - DND chief

Should the Chinese law enforcement ships persist on firing their water cannons against Filipino fishermen peacefully going about their business off Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that the Philippine response should be calibrated to avoid increasing tensions in the area and should involve the presence of the Philippine Coast Guard.

"In case Chinese Coast Guard vessel(s) will still persist (with) water cannon (attacks) response should be calibrated where we will have the PCG to maintain white-on- white response (as) not to heighten the tensions," Gazmin stressed.

Last Jan. 27 Chinese Coast Guard vessels fired their water cannons in a bid to drive Filipino fishing craft from the disputed waters.

"White-on-white" refers to the deployment of civilian law enforcement vessels to shadow or survey activities of similar craft.

This is done to prevent tensions from escalating as it usually happens when a Navy ship is deployed.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier announced that there is no need to respond militarily to the CCG's water cannon attack against Filipino fishermen.

"The incident is alarming, however, we do not (believe that this) merits a military response," AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said.

He added that the Philippines does not want to escalate the already volatile situation in the area.

"It is a concern that merits further discussion on how to deal in such situations, that's why its very important that there is a code of conduct that must be agreed upon by all claimants to avoid such incidents such as this," Zagala pointed out.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=620471