AFP to protect maritime domain despite ‘laws other countries pass’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday said it was determined to protect the Philippines' maritime domain amid a new law by China that allows its coast guard to fire at foreign vessels in disputed waters.

"We will be, as we have always been, resolute in protecting our maritime domain —regardless of what laws other countries may pass," AFP spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.

"We will pursue our constitutional mandate and consistently assert our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea," he added, saying that protecting the Philippine territory and upholding the Filipinos' interest is their "primary interest."

Arevalo made the statement as the United States expressed its concern on China's recently enacted coast guard law.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said during a regular briefing  that Washington was "concerned by language in the law that expressly ties the potential use of force, including armed force, by the China coast guard to the enforcement of China's claims, and ongoing territorial and maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas."

The language, Price added, "strongly implies this law could be used to intimidate (China's) maritime neighbors."

The Philippine military has deployed more naval assets to the West Philippine Sea to look after fishermen amid China's new law.  — DVM, GMA News