June 8 ------ The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it has discussed with its counterparts in Japan and the United States the possibility of conducting patrols outside the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or what is considered the high seas.
In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said that the three countries discussed the matter during the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. “Napag usapan din namin yung posibilidad na sila ay sasakay sa barko natin… sa pag papatrolya sa high seas. ‘Yun pong karagatan na lampas na po sa ating EEZ,” Gavan said.
The Philippines has classified a portion of the waters within its 220-nautical mile or 370.4-kilometer EEZ in the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea (WPS). China is claiming a significant part of the WPS as its own territory despite an arbitration in the Hague that ruled in the Philippines' favor. “Naging pong isyu sa ngayon dahil may po yung isang bansa gustong mag-board ng mga mangingisda papalaot sa bandang iyon,” he added.
According to Gavan, there is no timeline yet for possible joint patrols for this year. Beijing recently issued a regulation empowering its coast guard to detain foreigners that it claims are trespassing in the South China Sea following the Philippine civilian mission to the WPS.
The China Coast Guard (CCG) can detain trespassers without trial, the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday, citing a regulatory document of Beijing set to take effect in June. "Foreigners suspected of illegally passing China's borders can be held for up to 60 days," according to the media report.
Source: gmanetwork.com
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