PH Navy vows protection for Atin Ito WPS civilian mission amid Chinese shadowing

The Philippine Navy on Tuesday assured participants of Atin Ito’s civilian-led mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) of protection amid the shadowing activities of two Chinese vessels in the area.

At a press briefing, Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said that contingencies are in place.

“Western Command is monitoring the activity. There are appropriate contingencies in place in the event na kakailanganin ang response ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (in case help from AFP is needed),” Trinidad said.

According to Trinidad, the AFP will provide help when needed.

“We do not control the escalation dynamics of hostilities but we could assure not only the Atin Ito participants but all Filipinos in the WPS that your Armed Forces, the other government agencies, are always there ready to protect them hanggat kaya natin (as long as we can),” he said.

“The Philippine Navy, the AFP, and even other government agencies in the maritime domain are prepared to respond to support anything that they would need while conducting their concert at sea,” he added.

So far, Trinidad said the Philippine Navy has not monitored significant increase in the number of Chinese vessels and any indication that the Chinese vessels will perform aggressive actions against the civilian mission.

Chinese vessels

Atin Ito said two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels CCG 3306 and CCG 21549 shadowed its ship while on the way to Pagasa Island for a civilian mission on Tuesday morning.

The coalition said the two Chinese vessels shadowed the Philippine civilian mission ship around 54 nautical miles from El Nido, Palawan.

“CCG 3306 is 3 NM from Atin Ito ship while the other one, CCG 21549, is 5 NM away from the Atin Ito ship,” the coalition said.

More than 150 people are on board Atin Ito’s M/V Kapitan Felix Oca including volunteers, artists and their crew, the press, as well as boat staff.

Volunteers from Atin Ito arrived in El Nido on Monday to launch the third civilian-led mission to the WPS, which will culminate with a concert near Pagasa Island.

The civilian mission was set from May 26 to 30.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said it has deployed two of its vessels, Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua, to escort the civilian-led mission.

Arbitration court ruling

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.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

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." — RSJ, GMA Integrated News