PH prepared with 'calibrated response' on China water cannon incident

From InterAksyon (Feb 26): PH prepared with 'calibrated response' on China water cannon incident

The Philippine Coast Guard is ready to deploy patrol ships to Bajo de Masinloc as part of Manila’s “calibrated response” should Chinese ships continue to harass Filipino fishermen using water cannons.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told News5 that the filing of the diplomatic protest with the Chinese Embassy is the first step to bringing the water cannon incident to international bodies. Armed Forces Chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said earlier Chinese maritime patrol ships used water cannons to drive away Filipino fishermen, who were in the Bajo de Masinloc area.

Manila stressed the actions of the Chinese are illegal and pointed out that Bajo de Masinloc is well within sovereign territorial waters of the Philippines, emphasizing that it is not part of the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea. Last January, News5 reported that China has maintained a constant naval presence in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and at Ayungin Reef – wherein at least two ships – from the Chinese Maritime Surveillance or People’s Liberation Army – Navy are present.

Gazmin said the government is ready to deploy Coast Guard patrol ships to Bajo de Masinloc should Beijing refuse to heed Manila’s diplomatic protest and Chinese ships continue to harass Filipinos fishermen.

“We first file a diplomatic protest on the water cannon incident and [then] pursue the resolution of the issue through the arbitral tribunal,” Gazmin said. “In case the CCG (Chinese Coast Guard) vessel will still persist with water cannons, our response should be calibrated – where we will have the Philippine Coast Guard.”

By tasking the Philippine Coast Guard, Gazmin said Manila wants to maintain a “white on white response and not to heighten the tension.”

The Philippine Coast Guard is considered the equivalent of the Chinese Maritime Surveillance group.

The Philippine Coast Guard spokesman, Commander Armand Balilo, said they are still waiting for orders from Malacanang on whether or not to escort Filipino fishermen to Bajo de Masinloc.

“Our vessels are ready,” Balilo said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila insisted that China has “indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea and their adjacent waters.” The Embassy, in a statement, stressed this sovereignty includes Huangyan Islands – the name Bejing gave to Bajo de Masinloc.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/81603/ph-prepared-with-calibrated-response-on-china-water-cannon-incident