A new “operational concept or modality” has been unveiled by the National Maritime Council (NMC) on how the Philippines can deal with China Coast Guard (CCG) presence in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
A flag-raising activity is conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) onboard BRP Teresa Magbanua in the vicinity of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on June 12, 2024 to commemorate the 126th Philippine Independence Day. (PCG photo)
NMC spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said during a Quezon City news forum on Saturday, Sept. 21, that the Philippines will no longer disclose the locations of its ships, or whether they were anchored or moving around the areas they monitor.
This “operational adjustment,” as the official called it, will keep China in the dark about the Philippines’ operations in the disputed waters.
“Mas maganda nga iyong ano eh, nanghuhula sila kung saan. Kasi kapag alam nila kung nasaan, doon sila pupunta eh – parang magnet iyan (That’s better because they’ll have to guess. Because when they know, they go there — it’s like magnet) So, that is our approach na as much as possible na hindi natin i-reveal kung nasaan sila (we will not reveal where they are),” Lopez explained.
He added that how China “reacted” when the BRP Teresa Magbanua, which has since left the Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, was anchored there.
CCG vessels bullied, harassed, and repeatedly rammed the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the largest ship in the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) fleet.
“So, again, as part of operational security, itong mga detalye na ito (these details) are kept close to our chest ‘no as much as possible,” the NMC official said.
“Kasi otherwise, kung ikaw ang kalaban, malalaman mo… o ito pala, so makakapagdiskarte ka. So, mas maganda iyong hindi nila alam, hindi nila alam kung papaano didiskartehan kung anumang mayroon doon (Because otherwise, if you are the enemy, you will know… this is what they’re going to do, you can plan ahead. So, it’s better if they don’t know, they don’t know how to prepare whatever’s there),” he added.
However, Lopez assured the public that the Philippines, led by the PCG and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), has enough presence in the West Philippine Sea for maritime domain awareness missions and to protect the country’s interest there.
The monitoring does not only cover the Escoda and Ayungin Shoals, which were the sites of recent Chinese aggression, but the whole of West Philippine Sea, the official stressed.
“So what we are trying to convey sa ating mga kababayan na mayroon tayong presensiya doon, na nado-document natin kung anuman ang nangyayari doon at kung papaano natin ilalagay ang ating presensiya doon ay hindi ko puwedeng sabihin (to our countrymen is we have a presence there, we are documenting the incidents but I cannot say how we are doing it),” he said.
Lopez furthered that the country’s objective in patrolling the disputed areas has not changed, and that this was even strengthened “in combination with other approaches – technical and, you know, with our assets.”
The BRP Teresa Magbanua left the Escoda Shoal last weekend after it has fulfilled its duty and in the process, angered China who claims almost the entire sea.
The NMC official earlier revealed that a new vessel is in the vicinity of the shoal to continue its mission of patrolling the area and monitoring illegal activities by China there.