2 China Coast Guard vessels move near La Union — PCG

Two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were seen near Luna, La Union Monday morning, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said PCG chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the deployment of BRP Cabra and Bagacay to monitor Chinese vessels.

“Ngayong umaga (This morning), these two PCG vessels reported that they are still currently monitoring and challenging the presence of these two CCG vessel vessels at an approximate distance of 70 to 75 nautical miles off Luna, La Union Province,” Tarriela said.

The CGG vessels with bow number 3301 and 3304 were seen Sunday about 34 nautical miles or 63 kilometers from shore of Bolinao, Pangasinan.

According to Tarriela, this was the closest approach of the CCG to the Philippine land.

“Yes, that was the closest that masasabi natin (we can say). But again, the difference of these two CCG vessels with that of the CCG monster ship, itong pagdikit niya ng 34 nautical miles yesterday ay continuous. Kumbaga na-detect natin siyang lumapit ng gano'n, but it never stayed there for a long time,” he said.

(Yes, that was the closest that we can say. But again, the difference of these two CCG vessels with that of the CCG monster ship is that their passage from 34 nautical miles was continuous. We detected that they got close like that, but they never stayed there for a long time.”

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."

West Philippine Sea is the Philippines' name for areas in the South China Sea that is within its territory.

China refused to recognize the decision. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News