PHL needs shipshape Coast Guard to secure maritime possessions

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 8): PHL needs shipshape Coast Guard to secure maritime possessions

The country needs a shipshape Coast Guard to fully secure its maritime possession in the West Philippine Sea.

This was stressed by Gregory B. Poling, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative Center for Strategic and International Studies, during a chance interview Tuesday.

The latter was one of the speakers in the forum titled "Asia-Pacific Perspectives on Implementing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement” and it was held at the National Defense College of the Philippines, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

"Well the response has to be surface ships, Coast Guard vessels, law enforcement. Anything that happens out there is going to be at least a first a law enforcement issue. The Chinese aren't moving with military assets," Poling said.

This move is essential to prevent the situation from escalating.

"They're moving with fishing para-military troops and Coast Guard vessels. So the Philippines' top need right now is the development of a reliable Coast Guard," Poling said.

The maritime expert also stressed the need for the Philippines to build up its Navy for credible deterrence.

"The navy is a long-term investment. The Coast Guard is today's need," he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=892898