MANILA, Philippines, May 16 ----- Marking what’s part of the country, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recently installed five navigational buoys in critical areas of the West Philippine Sea (WPS), with each of them bearing the image of the Philippine flag.
In a tweet yesterday, PCG-WPS spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said the navigational buoys were placed by Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan in the areas of Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island and Juan Felipe Reef. The installation of the buoys was done from May 10 to 12.
“The installation of these buoys, adorned with the Philippine flag, signifies the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” said Tarriela. This move highlights the Philippines’ unwavering resolve to protect its maritime borders and resources and contribute to the safety of maritime trade,” he added.
Last Saturday, PCG Vice Admiral Joseph Coyme and Commodore Rommel Supangan conducted a Maritime Domain Awareness flight and inspected the newly installed buoys. In May last year, the PCG installed five buoys in the WPS. One buoy was placed on Likas Island, Lawak Island and Parola Island, while two buoys were installed on Pag-asa Island to mark the country’s territorial waters and serve as guide to mariners passing by the area. In a radio interview yesterday, Coyme revealed that they were monitoring several alleged Chinese militia vessels anchored in Philippine-claimed maritime areas.
He said the presence of the PCG in the area does not escalate tensions since the Philippines is intent on applying the diplomatic approach. “We are not yet in that situation that we would say that there is a heightened tension over the area. With our ships there, we are normally conducting our law enforcement functions pertaining to maritime safety and not provocative in nature,” Coyme said. It can be recalled that while PCG vessels were conducting maritime patrols in the WPS from April 18 to 24, a Chinese warship with bow number 549 confronted them through a radio challenge some seven nautical miles off Pag-asa Island on April 21.
The PCG vessels stood their ground, demanding that the Chinese leave the area instead. Last April 23, two Chinese coast guard vessels made dangerous maneuvers near the BRP Malabrigo and BRP Malapascua in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal. One of the Chinese vessels nearly collided with the PCG’s Malapascua.
Source: philstar.com
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