WESCOM says China has not taken Quirino Atoll in West Philippines Sea

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 4): WESCOM says China has not taken Quirino Atoll in West Philippines Sea

The Western Command (WESCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) which is based here said Thursday night that China has not taken control of the Quirino Atoll in the West Philippines Sea (WPS) as far as their patrols are concerned.

“To say that China has effectively taken over the Quirino Atoll is not accurate and not true,” a statement issued by the Western Command (WESCOM) through Capt. Cherryl Tindog in Palawan Thursday night said.

“While Chinese vessels have been sighted on and off the area, Filipino fishing vessels have also been monitored conducting economic activities on the atoll unhampered,” the sstatement added.

WESCOM admitted it has monitored the presence of Chinese vessels in Quirino Atoll following the grounding of a Filipino carrier boat due to bad weather and discrepancy of the said vessel, but “the reported permanent or prolonged Chinese presence is inaccurate.”

Aside from the grounded carrier, maritime patrol conducted last February 19 monitored three Filipino fishing vessels and one small banca. A Vietnamese vessel was also seen.

No Chinese vessel was sighted on the said day, the statement said.

On February 21, five Chinese vessels, two Chinese Coast Guard ships, and one Maritime Security Administration, one Rescue and Salvage Ship, and a barge were sighted on Quirino Atoll. On February 24, WESCOM said only a Filipino fishing vessel was seen.

The WESCOM said no vessel was sighted in the said area and its immediate vicinity on March 2 during a patrol. Only Filipino fishing vessels were monitored.

“There had been no report from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) or the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), or any Filipino fishing company that our fishermen are being harassed and/or being driven away in that area. Our recent patrol spotted Filipino fishing vessels conducting their usual economic activities,” the statement furthered.

On March 2, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also issued a statement saying there are no more sightings of Chinese vessels in the area and reiterated its call for China to exercise self-restraint from the conduct of activities that could complicate the territorial dispute in the area "and affect peace and stability in the region."

The WESCOM added the claim of Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon that “several Chinese vessels” have been staying in Quirino Atoll for a month now “is baseless as far as the results of our patrols are concerned.”

“As far as WESCOM is concerned, there is no sustained Chinese presence in the area,” WESCOM said.

The WESCOM also clarified the report that BRP Laguna (LT 501) was harassed by Chinese vessels near Hasa-Hasa Shoal was also “incorrect.”

“BRP Laguna completed her mission in the West Philippines Sea (WPS) without harassment,” WESCOM said in the statement.

“WESCOM remains vigilant in conducting maritime patrols in the entire WPS as mandated. We are committed to support the country’s resolve to adhere to the rule of law and to not escalate tension in the WPS. We urge all Filipinos to remain ever vigilant, especially our fishermen, to report to appropriate authorities any incident or harassment they have personally experienced," it said.

WESCOM also urge "our friends in the media" to be more cautious in their reporting "so as not to create unnecessary public alarm.”

Quirino Atoll is about 133 nautical miles (246 km) from the nearest tip of Rizal, Palawan, which is well within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=863146