Security exec: PH has ‘unassailable rights’ to WPS

By Priam Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency

FILE: DAMAGED. A Philippine Coast Guard officer measures the damage incurred by one of its ships from the China Coast Guard’s dangerous manuevers which resulted in a collision near the Escoda Shoal on Aug. 19, 2024. The National Security Council on Wednesday (Aug. 21, 2024) said National Security Adviser Eduardo Año briefed US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on China’s latest acts of harassment during a phone conference on Aug. 20. (Photos courtesy of PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela via Philippine News Agency/Facebook)

MANILA – National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año has reiterated Manila’s “unassailable rights” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid China’s latest aggressive actions on air and sea.

Año made this assertion in Tuesday’s phone conference with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, according to a statement from the National Security Council (NSC) released on Wednesday.

“The two NSAs exchanged information on the current maritime security situation in the region and particularly raised grave concerns on the recent illegal, aggressive, and dangerous actions of China’s People’s Liberation Army-Air Force (PLAAF) against a Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircraft conducting a routine maritime security operation over Bajo de Masinloc; and Chinese Coast Guard vessels against Philippine Coast Guard ships while en route to Patag Island and Lawak Island in the WPS,” it added.

The NSC was referring to the Aug. 8 incident where two Chinese jet fighters dropped flares near the flight path of a PAF NC-212i aircraft which was then on a maritime patrol over Bajo de Masinloc, and the Aug. 19 incident near Escoda Shoal, where China Coast Guard ships harassed and conducted dangerous maneuvers that heavily damaged two Philippine Coast Guard vessels.

During his talk with Sullivan, Año said the Philippines’ unassailable rights in the WPS are based on international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

He also thanked the US government for its unwavering support and ironclad commitment to the Philippines-United States alliance.

Meanwhile, Sullivan lauded the recently concluded inaugural Philippines-Vietnam joint coast guard exercise and Manila’s efforts to expand the conduct of maritime cooperative activities with like-minded countries in the region and beyond.

“The two NSAs look forward to the implementation of strategic priorities to accelerate the Philippines’ capability development and to continuously modernize the alliance,” the NSC added.

Meanwhile, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said the newly established National Maritime Council (NMC) would decide the country’s next step regarding these incidents.

The NMC was created by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. through Executive Order (EO) 57, issued on March 25 to strengthen the Philippines’ maritime security and increase maritime domain awareness among Filipinos amid China’s aggressive tactics and threats in the WPS.

“Any legal action by the Philippines regarding maritime issues in the West Philippine Sea must first be deliberated by the National Maritime Council,” Guevarra said, adding that the final decision would rest with the President. (With a report from Benjamin Pulta/PNA)