PH unfazed over presence of Chinese ships in West PH Sea
Philippine Navy says there is 'nothing to worry about' over the presence of two Chinese Navy warships as the Philippines and India conducted joint naval drills in the West Philippine Sea from August 3 to 4.
Video by Izel Abanilla
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00:00The first Philippine-Indian biotide cooperative activity is considered a very successful one.
00:07All activities scheduled were conducted as planned.
00:11Everything went well.
00:13All the desired objectives of the unit of the task force were met.
00:17The last thing we had to do was to take a look at the Chinese vessels.
00:23Are they ready for the pilot?
00:29Actually sir, right from the start or when we pull out,
00:33they were already monitored by our Philippine Air Force assets.
00:37Upon setting out for sale, we have already monitored them, processed them,
00:43and relatively, their distance from us or the main body was far.
00:47So, basically, nagawa naman namin lahat ng objectives and they did not affect at all.
00:52Hence, we were able to successfully complete the first Philippine-Indian Navy,
00:57our size-covered activity.
00:59And how do you characterize yung ginawa nila?
01:01Sa shadow, gano ba sila gagawin yung ginawa?
01:04Again sir, relatively, they are far.
01:07So, maybe they are trying to make their presence felt during the pandemic of activity,
01:12but nevertheless, hindi naman tayo natinak or naapekto ka nung presence sila sa area.
01:19Magkos natapos natin yung activity ng maayon.
01:22Amin ang challenge yung presence or is it that investment to manage yung presence?
01:27What do yung nang management?
01:29Since it is the exclusive economic zone,
01:32everybody has a freedom of navigation in the area.
01:35So, there was no challenge but we processed them.
01:38We monitored them all throughout the activity.
01:41They didn't have a patrol. They didn't have a patrol on the EZ.
01:46They didn't have to do it. They were innocent, expeditiously.
01:50But they were shadowed, right? They didn't have two days.
01:59Throughout that two days, they were along with us.
02:02But again, sir, they are relatively far from us.
02:05And we have been monitoring them.
02:08We are not the other way around.
02:13We are inside the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
02:17So, let's take care of what they are in our territorial areas.
02:21So, there's nothing to worry about, sir.
02:23Nothing to worry about.
02:24Allow me to give an overview.
02:26For the past two days, we had a joint maritime activity with India.
02:31It was a series of complex naval activities,
02:34starting with maneuvering drills, anti-surface activities,
02:39and one of the highlights of which is the replenishment at sea.
02:43So, during this replenishment at sea, the purpose of which is to prolong
02:47or mapahaba yung stay natin at sea.
02:50By transferring specific provisions, such as fuel, solid provisions,
02:54mga ganang bakay po sir.
02:55So, during nung conduct ng replenishment at sea,
02:59yung first day, nung 03 August,
03:01nag-conduct po muna tayo ng approaches.
03:03So, this is regular or doctrinal,
03:06kasi kailangan muna natin mag-practice.
03:08And then, on the succeeding day,
03:10we conducted the actual replenishment at sea,
03:13wherein we came as close as 41 yards doon sa supplying ship.
03:18So, during that activity sir,
03:20nagkaroon na lang na tayo ng slight exchanges of solid material.
03:25Yes sir, sir. When conducting replenishment, it is not just a one-day activity. It is a serious and deeply rooted preparation, sir.
03:44So, it cannot be conducted na biglaan lang.
03:48So, talagang hindi po siya biro sa'ed. Being as close as 41 yards from a flying ship, marami pong pwedeng mangyari.
03:57Many factors considered, environmentally, human, or whatever.
04:02So, ito yung pag-aandasar sa ano? Possible na in the future, nandito na naman ulit yung mga Indian, pwede silang mag-review well sa atin in the region.
04:11Tama po. Actually, this is a great avenue for us to enhance our interoperability with light-minded nations.
04:17Such as India. So, in the next iteration, either with India or other countries who wish to participate,
04:26bringing with them yung mga oilers or similar platforms, we are ready sir.
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