Gen bares 'continuous' harassment of Chinese Coast Guard in WPS

From the Manila Times (May 23, 2023): Gen bares 'continuous' harassment of Chinese Coast Guard in WPS (By Bernadette E. Tamayo)

THE Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) continues to harass Filipino troops in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which has sometimes resulted in a delay in the delivery of provisions to soldiers stationed at the Ayungin Shoal in the Kalayaan Island Groups (KIG).

BGen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief-of-staff, on Tuesday confirmed that there is "continuous harassment" of Filipino troops by the CCG.

Gaerlan made the remark when he faced the Commission on Appointments for the deliberation of his ad interim appointment. Fifty other general/flag and senior AFP officers also underwent the CA deliberation.

"There's always continuous harassment of our troops at [the] Kalayaan Island Groups and sometimes the provision of our troops there is always delayed, depending on the situation," he said.

"When there is lots of news about the conflict at the WPS that's the time also that they usually are very aggressive and not allowing some of our ships to go there," Gaerlan said.

He added, "Nevertheless, our ships continue to attempt to go there until such time that they are able to pass through."

"However, sometimes these maneuvers are very dangerous, especially to our Navy men, who are using the ships and it may cause damage or even loss of lives if there will be a lot of miscalculation," Gaerlan said.

The Philippine military in 1999 ran the BRP Sierra Madre aground at the Ayungin Shoal or Mischief Reef, some 196 kilometers from Palawan, in response to China's illegal occupation of the area.

The CCG last February 8 beamed a military-grade laser light on a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship in Ayungin Shoal which was on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre. The incident caused temporary blindness to the PCG personnel.

The PCG had also reported the presence of a People's Liberation Army Navy vessel, a CCG vessel, and 42 suspected Chinese maritime militia vessels within the surrounding waters of the Pag-asa island.

Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito has expressed concern over the continued aggression experienced by Filipino soldiers stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.

"We are trying to shore up, we cannot fight China of course, but at least, we can put up the minimum credible defense posture that we all aspire for," Ejercito said.

Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada on Monday called on fellow senators to support the cause of the brave men and women of Pag-asa island in the KIG and help uplift their living condition.

Estrada, who personally visited the island on May 18, maintained that it is their moral obligation, as public servants, to ensure that Pag-asa island residents have access to basic necessities such as education, healthcare and livelihood.

A total of 350 civilians are currently living on Pag-asa Island, 73 of them are children.