MANILA, Philippines – Napigilan ng barko ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) na BRP Cabra na makalapit sa baybayin ng Zambales ang isang barko ng China Coast Guard (CCG).
Sa pahayag, sinabi ni PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela na napalayo ang CCG 3103 ng nasa 80 hanggang 90 nautical miles mula sa dalampasigan ng Zambales.
“The strategic maneuvering of BRP Cabra has effectively kept CCG-3103 from getting closer to the coastline of Zambales,” ani Tarriela.
“Through the seamanship skills of the PCG personnel aboard, CCG-3103 has been successfully pushed further away and is now located approximately 80 to 90 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales,” dagdag pa niya.
Patuloy umanong nag-iisyu ng radio challenges ang mga crew ng BRP Cabra para paalalahanan ang mga crew ng CCG na lumalabag na ang mga ito sa international law.
Kasabay ng pagprotekta sa maritime rights at pagpapatupad ng international maritime laws, siniguro naman ng PCG na hindi mapatindi ang tensyon sa CCG.
Ipinagtanggol ni Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun ang presensya ng kanilang mga barko sa exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas.
“Let me reiterate that China’s sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and the law and compliant with the international law and practice,” ayon sa opisyal.
Nanindigan si Guo na ang CCG “conducts patrols and law enforcement activities in relevant waters in accordance with the law, which is fully justified.”
“We call on the Philippines once again to immediately stop all infringement activities, provocations and false accusations, and stop all its actions that jeopardize peace and stability and complicate the situation in the South China Sea,” dagdag pa. RNT/JGC