AFP Chief expresses alarm over China’s coast guard threats to fire at foreign vessels

Posted to the Mindanao Examiner (Feb 12, 2021): AFP Chief expresses alarm over China’s coast guard threats to fire at foreign vessels

THE PHILIPPINES expressed alarm over China’s new law allowing its coast guard to fire at foreign vessels to assert its sovereignty in disputed waters in the South China Sea, raising temperatures in the strategic waterway, the military chief said.

Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said the Filipino fishermen venture into rich fishing grounds in the South China Sea to make a living and not to provoke a conflict with China which claimed almost the entire sea based on historical accounts.

“Yung pronouncement ng China na their guard coast can open fire to people intruding into their territory, it is very alaming po yan. I should say it’s very irresponsible statement dahil hindi naman tayo, ang ating mga kababayan ay hindi naman pumunta sa lugar na yan, sa disputed area para makikipag-gyera kungdi naghahanap buhay,” he said.

Sobejana said the military will increase its presence, deploying more naval ships to protect local fishermen from harassment. I just want to make clear that our navy presence there is not to wage war against China but to secure our own people,” he added.

There had been numerous incidents in the past when Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons to drive away local fishermen. In 2019, a Chinese ship rammed and sank a local fishing boat in the Reed Bank, an area within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Fishermen groups were worried China’s coast guard could use a more lethal weapon against them in Scarborough Shoal and other disputed areas in the South China Sea

The Philippines and China are locked in a maritime dispute over the sea where more than 3 trillion worth of seaborne goods pass every year. Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have conflicting claims on the areas believed to have rich deposits of energy resources.

China’s embassy in Manila assured the law was not directed at any country and conforms to international law. Security experts said China has the rights to impose its sovereignty in its territorial water, but could become a problem in disputed areas, raising tensions not only with claimant-states but with other extra regional powers which patrol the areas, like the United States.

It could raise the possibility of accidents and miscalculations that could lead into limited conflict. (Manny Mogato, News5)

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