Push back

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. announced the country will cooperate with China when the two countries have the same interests but will push back when the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of the Philippines in the South China Sea are questioned or ignored. He added that it appears that China does not really respect smaller countries in the region and always only mentions the issue, or their fear, of America which they say should not interfere. When Marcos became president, our ships and fishermen were subjected to threats, bullying, near collisions, and even water cannon blasts from the Chinese Coast Guard. Since Beijing no longer has a friend in the Palace, China has stepped up its aggression in the South China Sea.

At the same time, BRP Gabriela Silang of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sailed to the Philippine Rise to check on the two Chinese research vessels reportedly loitering in the area. The Philippine Rise is covered by a 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. There is no other country adjacent to the Philippines on the eastern side so no one else can claim it. I don't even know what the two Chinese research ships are doing in the Philippine Rise being too far away from any part of China. Just proof of China’s insatiable appetite for the world’s natural resources no matter how far they are from their mainland.

If the two research vessels had been spotted by an American maritime expert leaving Chinese ports and heading to the Philippine Rise, why didn’t the PCG react right away? The PCG claims they were also aware of the Chinese vessels. I know that we lack equipment and personnel, but even so, we need to safeguard our territory. Maybe China knows the Philippine Rise is not patrolled so they went there. Now that they know a PCG ship is on its way, they will probably leave. China has the technology to monitor what ships are sailing anywhere in the world.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo was right in his call for China to stop the harassment. He encouraged China to discuss issues and problems peacefully, and not use intimidation and harassment as a means of discourse. But China does not know how to discuss peacefully and every action they do is done behind the strength of their Coast Guard and military. It is no wonder they make noise when the US Navy makes its presence. The US is not a small Southeast Asian country that China can just bully around.