PCG shadows 2 Chinese vessels near Panatag

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shadowed the two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels operating near Panatag Shoal yesterday during a routine maritime patrol in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

PCG vessel BRP Cabra repeatedly issued radio challenges, ordering the two Chinese ships to depart Philippine waters, according to PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela.

“The challenge cited violations of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s excessive maritime claims in the South China Sea,” Tarriela said in a statement.

The PCG said it will continue to conduct routine patrols across the country’s maritime domain “to protect national sovereignty and prevent the normalization of unlawful Chinese presence.”

Meanwhile, Foreign Service Institute Assistant Chief for WPS Studies Jacqueline Buenaventura said that China shouldn’t use “environmental protection responsibilities” as a pretext for advancing unsubstantiated territorial and maritime claims.

In a recent episode of “Breakfast Conversations with the Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies,” Buenaventura said that science diplomacy can only achieve genuine environmental cooperation in South China Sea if territorial claims are set aside, no ulterior motives are pursued and agreements are made in good faith.

She made the remark as FSI evaluated China’s intent in designating Panatag Shoal as a “national nature reserve.” — Pia Lee-Brago