00:00The Philippine Coast Guard once again launched a radio challenge
00:03to see the ship of the China Coast Guard on the coastline of Zambales.
00:07Niko Wahe was the target.
00:12After seeing it on January 9,
00:15the China Coast Guard's Vessel 3304 entered the Exclusive Economic Zone once again.
00:21It was able to see 70 to 80 nautical miles from the coastline of Zambales.
00:25It was radio challenged by PCG personnel
00:28that were riding the BRP Teresa Magbanoa, patrolling the area.
00:32You are advised that you are currently sailing within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone.
00:37According to the Philippine Coast Guard,
00:39they saw two reasons why China is illegally sailing in Zambales.
00:45We believe that this is a way for the Chinese Coast Guard to drive away the Filipino fishermen.
00:51They wanted to break the confidence of our countrymen
00:55because we know that if more Filipinos go to the West Philippine Sea,
01:01it is actually a headache for the Chinese government.
01:04Second, China wants to normalize and legitimize their deployment to the coast of Zambales.
01:11So they wanted to make it appear that this is the new normal,
01:16this is an altered status quo.
01:18So our role now on the part of the Philippine Coast Guard
01:21is to challenge this kind of behavior of China so that they will not go against their narrative.
01:28Maritime law expert Dr. J. Baton Bacal called this a show of China.
01:34Others say that this is a show.
01:36That is the way by which China is trying to make it appear
01:40that they are exercising authority and jurisdiction in that area.
01:44So this is a show.
01:46But it is enough for the Philippine Coast Guard to protest against China.
01:52So as long as they are not doing anything more than just sailing through,
01:57then the most we can do is simply watch and wait.
02:01And if they make it appear, if they make a statement or undertake an activity
02:05which tries to show that they are exercising jurisdiction,
02:10then our response will be that we do not recognize any such exercises of jurisdiction.
02:15It is also true that the Philippines has expanded its defense cooperation with other countries
02:19such as Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Taiwan.
02:23The Chinese embassy has not yet given a new answer.
02:26For GMA Integrated News, Nico Juahe for Tutok 24 Hours.
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