Gov’t mulling all options on continued Chinese encroachment in WPS

Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad. (Photo: Philippine Navy/Facebook)

By Priam Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The government is mulling all its options in resolving the continued Chinese encroachment in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a ranking naval official said Tuesday.

“There are many approaches that could be taken. We haven’t exhausted all approaches (yet),” Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said.

He denied that continued Chinese presence in the WPS, especially in Ayungin and Escoda (also known as Sabina) Shoals, constitute a “form of limited sea control” or a “blockade.”

“No. I call them as illegal presence, coercive and aggressive actions, and deceptive messaging,” Trinidad said.

Monitoring from Sept. 17 to 23 shows that 251 Chinese ships were spotted in the WPS, the majority of them detected in Ayungin and Escoda, the highest concentration of Chinese ships in the WPS so far this year, the Navy said.

“At the highest level of government, there are a range of different options available. These options have not been exhausted yet. The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) has a particular role to play under the whole-of-government effort,” Trinidad said. “Whatever is decided upon, the AFP will implement.”

He clarified that the Philippine military did not lose its presence in Escoda Shoal despite the departure of the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) on Sept. 14.

“We have always been there. The objective is monitoring. Again, (as) I mentioned, this is not just physical. There are different capabilities that we have right now to be able to monitor not only Escoda, but the entire WPS,” he added.

Trinidad said monitoring the area could be done on sea, land, or through space-based systems, noting that the Navy would not be deterred in going about its regular routine.

“We’ll keep performing our mandate and keep monitoring our shoals and reefs and shallow areas,” he added.