00:00Meanwhile, the Philippine government has so far filed 35 diplomatic protests against China this year
00:05as their aggressive actions continues in the West Philippine Sea.
00:09Our Patrick de Jesus has the details in his report.
00:13The government defended its current strategy in the West Philippine Sea
00:18where the military will not take the lead in operations,
00:22particularly at Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinlok.
00:25This is despite the PLA Navy warship of China
00:29also being among those harassing Philippine vessels
00:32such as the incident last week
00:34which resulted in its collision with a China Coast Guard ship.
00:39We also would like to pursue PCG as the lead as of this point
00:45just to ensure the message to our Chinese friends
00:52that we are not escalating things.
00:54That is the main message of using our civilian Coast Guard.
00:59So, I believe they read it.
01:04It's just a matter for them to accept it.
01:06Hindi tayo magpapadala ng Navy natin para tapatan ang isang Navy.
01:12Bakit?
01:13Kasi once you deploy a Navy vessel there, you come like warlike.
01:17Hindi tayo magpaprobok kasi we do not know what will happen if two Navy vessels are there
01:21kasi doon pwede mangyari miscalculation, misjudgment.
01:25And that is the thing that we do not want.
01:28Hindi naman nagsasabi dahil hindi tayo nagde-deploy doon na naduduwag tayo.
01:32Hindi.
01:32The Philippine Coast Guard also assured that it remains safe for Filipino fishermen to sail to Panatag Shoal.
01:40The deployment of PCG ships is also done with careful planning
01:44ensuring they can match China's aggressive actions.
01:47We are deploying skippers of the vessels who are excellent in seamanship skills.
01:54The display of seamanship skill of Captain Angge, the commanding officer of 4406,
02:00is a good evidence of how careful we are in selecting Coast Guard vessels whenever we deploy in the West Open Sea.
02:09Meanwhile, the Philippines has already filed 35 diplomatic protests against China this year
02:15over various incidents in the West Philippine Sea.
02:19Diplomacy will remain a key part of resolving maritime disputes,
02:24such as the existing provisional agreement covering Rore missions at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
02:31Yes, we are looking at existing platforms for discussing all these important matters with China.
02:40Again, ang instructions sa atin is that we continue diplomacy and dialogue
02:48and we keep lines of communication open with China.
02:52Linsunod na nga yan sa instructions ng Pangulo.
02:55Monitoring also continues on the illegal presence of four China Coast Guard ships around Bajo de Masinloc
03:03along with a Chinese research vessel.
03:06Patrick De Jesus from the National TV for a New and Better Philippines.
