00:00It's becoming increasingly clear how China likes to push the envelope and test the limits
00:05of the country's patience in the West Philippine Sea.
00:08One thing is for sure, the PCG and AFP can ill afford to overreact against China's challenges
00:14but instead remain firm in holding ground and calling them out in accordance with international
00:19law.
00:20Our Patrick D'Souza has more.
00:25Two China Coast Guard vessels came as close as 34 nautical miles from the coastline of
00:31Pangasinan.
00:32This was monitored by the Philippine Coast Guard on Sunday morning, prompting the immediate
00:37deployment of an islander aircraft.
00:40The Chinese vessels, with bow numbers 3301 and 3104, did not respond to any radio challenge.
00:47BRP Cabra and BRP Bagacay were also deployed to monitor the situation, successfully driving
00:59the vessels further away to a distance of 70 to 75 nautical miles from Luna, La Union.
01:06This is the closest distance Chinese vessels have come to the country's coastline this
01:10year.
01:11We still don't know where will be the final area where the China Coast Guard vessels will
01:24be placed but our two Coast Guard vessels will ensure that we will be able to dock here.
01:32the country's exclusive economic zone near Zambales for over a month now.
01:55The monster ship returned last Saturday but was once again driven away, this time 120
02:01nautical miles from the country's coastline.
02:04This was due to the persistent monitoring efforts of the BRP Teresa Magmanua to prevent
02:09the ship from coming closer.
02:11According to an expert, the PCG's efforts are appropriate and lawful despite limited
02:17assets and resources.
02:19The more we show alarm, the more we show primarily fear, then their grey zone operation is being
02:25effective.
02:26So the best thing to do is of course to challenge them.
02:30capabilities, we would stand on our ground.
02:33It's an open book that we have a very limited number of assets.
02:37That can also be a possibility on the part of helping Coast Guard, we are strategically
02:43managing our limited resources.
02:45As far as the Coast Guard is concerned, we are adhering to the guidance of President
02:50Pobo Marcos.
02:51We should not be the reason to escalate the tension, we are not instigators of war, we
02:59are a peace-loving nation.
03:01Meanwhile, following the arrest of Chinese nationals allegedly for spying on naval docks
03:07and Coast Guard stations, the PCG assured that systems are in place to prevent leaks
03:13in their operations.
03:15As far as the personnel on board, the Coast Guard personnel are concerned, they are properly
03:22vetted and they are also reminded every once in a while the secrecy and confidentiality
03:30of our deployment of Coast Guard assets.
03:34We also have different ways to do background check to our personnel to make sure that they
03:42will not be the source of leak of our movement.
03:46From the People's Television Network, Patrick Deesus, Balitang Pambansa.
03:52For more UN videos visit www.un.org
