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BRP Cabra prevents Chinese ship from getting closer to Zambales coastline




January 24 ------ Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Cabra prevented a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel from getting nearer the Zambales coastline. In an update on Thursday evening, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said CCG 3103 moved away around 80 to 90 nautical miles from the Zambales coast. “The strategic maneuvering of BRP Cabra has effectively kept CCG-3103 from getting closer to the coastline of Zambales,” Tarriela said. “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,” he added. 

  

The crew of BRP Cabra has consistently issued hourly radio challenges to remind the CCG crew of its violations of international law, according to Tarriela. While safeguarding the country’s maritime rights and imposing international maritime laws, Tarriela said the PCG is avoiding escalating tensions with the CCG. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun earlier defended the presence of their vessels in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). "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," the official said. 

  

Guo maintained the 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," he added. 

  

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China refused to recognize the decision. 

  

Source: gmanetwork.com 

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