Scientist: WPS expeditions face challenges due to Chinese Coast Guard presence

Philippine scientists monitoring the West Philippine Sea reported that their expeditions in the area faced challenges due to the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard.

According to University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) microbial oceanographer Deo Onda, the expeditions have been limited as the Chinese Coast Guard has been preventing their entry.

“Kami, bilang mga siyentipikong Pilipino at ‘yung West Philippine Sea naman ay nasa bakuran natin, kaming mga siyentipiko, dapat malaya kaming nakakapunta doon kahit anong oras na gusto namin,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

“Pero sa kasaysayan din ng paglulunsad namin ng expedisyon sa MSI, meron kaming mga pagkakataon na hindi na lang kami pinapayagan bigla o sinasabihan kami na hindi na kami pwedeng tumuloy kasi may security threat,” he added.

[As Filipino scientists and as the West Philippine Sea is part of our territory, we should be free to survey the area any time we want. In the history of our expeditions in the MSI, there have been circumstances that we have not been allowed to push through or that we have been told that we can not continue because of the security threat.]

Onda said preparations for expeditions take months to as long as a year, but local scientists are only advised that these can no longer push through just days before the schedule.

“Minsan hindi natin napupuntahan dahil nga sa presensya ng China at malaki ‘yung implikasyon nito dun sa ginagawa nating siyensya, kasi nga gusto nating makita ‘yung kabuuan pero papaano mo naman maiintindihan kung hindi mo napupuntahan ‘yung ibang lugar,” he said.

[Sometimes we no longer get to see the other areas because of the Chinese presence. This has a big implication on our scientific research, cause we want to observe the whole area but how do we do that when we have yet to visit some areas.]

Onda said there have been some incidents when they have been told by the Chinese Coast Guard to leave, claiming that the area is Chinese territory.

“Whenever we are in the area, nakakatanggap tayo ng challenges na tinatawag, minsan tatawagan ka, ‘This is Chinese Coast Guard, you are entering the Chinese territory. Please leave now’,” he said.

The scientist said the local team adjusts based on the need and the security risk, in line with protocols in place in coordination with the national government and the National Security Council.

To recall, President Rodrigo Duterte in a televised briefing earlier this year claimed the arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines is nothing but paper, and that the United Nations did not matter as asserting it would mean trouble.

This is different from his remarks when he spoke before the United Nations General Assembly in September 2020, rejecting any attempt to undermine the July 2016 ruling.

The Philippines in 2013 challenged China on its basis for its claims on the West Philippine Sea. Manila eventually won.

China has refused to acknowledge the ruling, and at least six Chinese warships and 240 Chinese militia vessels were found scattered in the territorial waters off Kalayaan in Palawan and the Philippine exclusive economic zone in April.

For its part, the National Task Force of the West Philippine Sea said it is prepared to protect Filipino fishers who plan to fish in the grounds also being claimed by China.

Earlier this month, China water-cannoned two Philippine boats bringing supplies to Ayungin Shoal. — BM, GMA News