Filipino ships patrolling in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) have now been more resolved to stand their ground against intruding foreign vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) bared Friday, September 17.
PCG Commandant Vice Admiral Leopoldo Laroya said their vessels were still being challenged by Chinese-manned vessels in the WPS but the Filipinos wouldn't back down, forcing the other party to retreat.
“Mayroon pakonti-konti nilalapitan ng Coast Guard (There are few Chinese vessels approached by the Coast Guard). We always maintain a constant patrol in the area and they sometimes challenge our challenge but in the end they leave,” Laroya said in an online virtual presser of the National Task Force for the WPS.
The PCG Commandant said that Coast Guard ships have earned the respect of the foreign vessels as they now heed warnings to leave the Philippines' territorial waters.
“At the moment, we are having a good cooperation with them (Chinese vessels) that when challenged, they leave the area,” he added.
Last July 13, a Chinese Navy warship was forced to leave the Marie Louise Bank in El Nido, Palawan after PCG personnel issued a radio challenge against them.
The PCG ships also drove away seven foreign fishing vessels believed to be manned by Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen off Marie Louise Bank on June 30.
The Philippines protested on March 20 the presence of 220 Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef in WPS.
READ MORE: PCG drives away Chinese, Vietnamese fishing vessels from PH EEZ, PH Coast Guard’s radio challenge drives away Chinese Navy warship in WPS
As of Aug. 16, 2021, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin said 158 diplomatic notes have been sent to China on issues of incursions in the country’s territory in the WPS. Out of the 158, 143 were issued under Locsin’s terms.
The DFA secretary said China has responded in 124 diplomatic notes sent by the Philippines.
READ MORE: China answered all 124 PH protests on alleged WPS infractions- Locsin