00:00Chinese research vessels were spotted inside the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ as Beijing brands the Philippines a troublemaker, a claim strongly denied by the Philippine Coast Guard.
00:11Our Patrick De Jesus narrates the report.
00:15The Philippines is being labeled by China as the troublemaker or instigator of conflict in disputed waters.
00:22According to the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, the Philippines is dragging other countries into the fray to escalate tensions.
00:32This was countered by the Philippine Coast Guard, pointing out how China's claims contradict their acts of bullying towards Philippine Sea vessels, a sentiment echoed by an expert.
00:43In spite of all this, the Philippine Coast Guard still maintained professionalism.
00:48We never responded to such bullying tactics ng People's Republic of China.
00:54As a matter of fact, ang Philippine Coast Guard ay umaayon sa guidance ng ating Pangulo ng Pagtitimpi.
01:01Well, that's their current propaganda line.
01:03They're trying to get the rest of the region and the international community up against us.
01:09I don't pay attention to it. I would just ignore it.
01:16Kasi everyone else also knows naman eh, who's the real troublemaker.
01:20We're not the ones going over a thousand miles to create trouble.
01:25I think it highlights also their kind of desperation din eh.
01:28Three China Coast Guard vessels were monitored in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, returning after inclement weather.
01:34The Philippine Coast Guard is also monitoring three Chinese research vessels inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
01:44One of them is the Beidiao 996, last truck with the help of the Canadian Dark Vessel Detection Program, now 185 nautical miles from Sambales.
01:55Meanwhile, two vessels, the multi-purpose research vessels Zhang Yanghong-10 and unmanned drone carrier Zhuhai Yun, entered the country's EEZ together on July 25.
02:08Both circled near Balagtas Reef this Thursday.
02:11They were last spotted 195 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan.
02:16The PCG is now deploying vessels to drive away the Chinese research ships.
02:21If proven that they are actually conducting marine scientific research, we have to document this and of course submit this to proper authorities for us to act on these illegal activities of the People's Republic of China.
02:39Amid ongoing challenges to assert the country's rights and sovereignty, lawmakers are being pushed to amend the AFP modernization law.
02:48The appeal came directly from Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and was supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
02:56Alam natin na nag-o-obsolite ang mga kagamitan in a much shorter time.
03:02Walang bansa sa mundo na may independent foreign policy na walang malakas na sandatahan.
03:11Kasi ang kapayapaan, ang independensya, hindi yan libre.
03:19Pinaglalabanan yan or pinaghahandaan upang walang tangkang guluhin ito.
03:28Yung sinabi ng ating Pangulo na we are friends to all, enemies to none, hindi po ibig sabihin na hindi na po tayo lalaban kung kinakailangan.
03:39That is why kailangan palakasin po natin yung ating Armed Forces of the Philippines.
03:43The AFP Modernization Program was last revised in 2012 and is divided into different horizons or phases over 15 years.
03:52Patrick De Jesus from The National TV for a new and better Philippines.
