PH must show China allies are ready to help defend WPS – expert

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

FILE: The BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and the JS Sazanami (DD 113) sail together during the Philippine-Japan maritime cooperative activity on August 2 in the West Philippine Sea. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The Philippines must show China that it is not alone as it has allies who are ready to help in defending the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a maritime expert said on Saturday.

University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea director Jay Batongbacal warned that China would continue harassing the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea (SCS), including the WPS, until Manila concedes.

During the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Batongbacal said it is important for the Philippines to display courage, since it is obvious that it would not be able to deter China’s aggression in the SCS alone.

“Para sa atin, syempre ang solution doon is ipakita natin na hindi kami pipitsugin lamang na pwede mong i-ignore, na basta-basta mo lang tapak-tapakan. Kumbaga meron pa rin tayong asim. Pwede pa rin tayong kumagat at mahalagang ipakita natin na kapag tayo kumagat, kapag tayo ay lumaban, hindi lang tayo nag-iisa, maraming tutulong sa atin (For us, of course the solution is to show that we are not someone that you can ignore, that you can just trample on. Show them that we can fight. We can still fight and it is important that we show them that when we fight, we are not alone, there are many who will help us),” Batongbacal said.

However, invoking the Philippines’ alliance with other countries to protect the WPS should be a last resort, Batongbacal said.

Instead, Manila should continue asserting its sovereign rights over Philippine waters.

Batongbacal said the Philippines must not get easily swayed by China’s new tactic of escalating tensions in Escoda Shoal, adding that the government should continue patrolling the entire WPS.

He said China is merely distracting the Philippines by trying to make Escoda Shoal as the new “flash point” for the two countries’ maritime conflict.

Beijing is confident that it is strong enough to intimidate and dominate the Philippines, he added.

“Tandaan natin ang intention ng China, sakupin ang buong South China Sea, kasama ‘yung West Philippine Sea. Para masakop nila iyan, kailangang maipakita nila na constant ang presence ng kanilang patrol, lalo na ang kanilang mga armed forces and law enforcement (Let’s remember, China’s intention is to occupy the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. In order for them to occupy that, they need to be able to show the constant presence of their patrol, especially their armed forces and law enforcement),” Batongbacal said.

“Talagang itutuloy nila iyan. Pupunuin nila iyan hanggang sumuko ang Pilipinas (They will definitely continue that. They will occupy it until the Philippines surrenders).”

Batongbacal said China’s aggressive acts in Scarborough and Ayungin Shoals will continue but the Philippines should not focus on them at all times.

“Hindi dapat tayo madistract niyan dahil ang dapat nating tinitignan ano ‘yung kabuuan ng sinasakop ng China, ganitong klaseng mga taktika (We should not be distracted by that because what we should be looking at is the totality of China’s occupation and these kinds of tactics),” Batongbacal said.

The Philippines is considering filing a case before an international body following China Coast Guard ships’ recent dangerous maneuvers against Philippine Coast Guard vessels in waters adjacent to Escoda Shoal.