Despite the tension created by the overlapping maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippines is seeking to promote peace and good working relationship with neighboring countries in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly with China, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Adm. Artemio Abu, PCG Commandant, said this was the message he emphasized to Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian when they met last Nov. 25, several days after a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel seized from a Philippine Navy (PN) vessel a metal debris near Pag-asa Island in the WPS.
Abu shared that during the recently held Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Coast Guard Forum in Bali, Indonesia, a declaration was made by the attending Coast Guard chiefs stating that diplomacy should be the primary resort when discussing maritime issues in the region, and he used such declaration to discuss the tension created by the Nov. 20 Pagasa incident.
“We respect each other, we continue to work harmoniously with one another so naging paraan natin ‘yun noong makausap natin ang ambassador ng China at sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘Sana po ay ganito ang maging relationship natin sa region. Nandito po tayo bilang magkakaratig na bansa’ (that became a way when I talked to the ambassador of China and I told him, ‘I wish our relationship will be like this in the region. We are here as neighboring countries),’” Abu said on Monday, Dec. 5.
“We are espousing the spirit of good neighborhood in the region so the Coast Guard being a universal service, isa lang ang nature ng aming existence (our existence has only one nature) and that is to ensure safety, security and environmental protection,” he added.
Abu said his meeting with Huang had a “very cordial atmosphere” as he maintained that the PCG invokes the white ship diplomacy in the murky waters of WPS. This refers to the use of PCG vessels instead of military vessels when dealing with maritime incidents to avoid tension.
“The Coast Guard is the instrument of the national government in ensuring peace, security, and order at sea, being a universal service so the white ship diplomacy is always there,” he concluded.