PH now more assertive vs. Chinese activities in WPS

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

BRP Cabra takes over patrol from BRP Suluan to challenge illegal presence of China Coast Guard. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard)

MANILA – The country has been “more assertive” in its approach against aggressive Chinese acts in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Saturday.

“I think right now, we are more assertive, if that will be a much more appropriate diplomatic term,” PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a news forum in Quezon City.

“We are more assertive in our position in the West Philippine Sea. Since day 1 of President (Ferdinand) Bongbong Marcos Jr., he has explicitly committed that this government will never surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign power,” he added.

Under the Marcos administration, Tarriela said the Philippines witnessed a deepening security alliance not only with the United States but with other countries like Australia and Japan as well as the European Union.

“So, all of these are in response to the constant aggression of the Chinese government,” he said. “If you’re going to ask me whether we have a much firmer stand in our position in the West Philippine Sea under President Bongbong Marcos, I think so.

”

The PCG had been relentless in challenging Chinese presence off the coast of Zambales, where Beijing deploys large vessels to illegally patrol the area.

Earlier, PCG vessel BRP Cabra managed to push farther away China’s newest CCG deployment in the area to about 100 nautical miles from Zambales’ coastline.