Collision of 2 Chinese vessels to be taken up in PH-China talks

The recent collision of two Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc will be discussed in the upcoming bilateral consultation mechanism between Manila and Beijing, which will be hosted by the Philippines this year, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. 

“The issues on the bilateral is always discussing everything on the South China Sea. And this is the mechanism that really works because we are the channel of communication,” said DFA Secretary Theresa Lazaro. 

A week after the incident, warships of Philippines, Australia, and Canada  conducted a joint sailing last August 17 near Lubang Island in Mindoro as part of the Philippine-Australia Alon Military Exercises. 

The Philippine Navy believes that such joint sails with allied countries is effective against coercion by China. 

“The presence of foreign warships and aircraft forces a change, results to a slight change in their action. We noticed that there are no coercive or aggressive actions each time there are foreign warships in our maritime domain,” said Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea. 

When asked if the Navy should already get involved in actions against the aggressions by China, Trinidad said: “The premise itself is speculative in nature….In between that, the details of that, we leave it up to the  unified commander. But the AFP will always be there to render assistance when needed, if needed.” 

But a security analyst is worried that China may retaliate against Philippine forces. 

“They have to show that you cannot just get away by causing China to lose face. There will be consequences…’yung nakitang Chinese Coast Guard vessel sa mouth ng Manila Bay, I heard the Chinese Coast Guard is planning to conduct patrol…just within our 12 nautical miles territorial waters….” said Renato de Castro. 

“May lumalabas ngayon na inorder yata ng Chinese Coast Guard to see to it, that they will ensure that our Coast Guard could never leave the 12 nautical miles territorial waters,” he added.

For its part, the National Maritime Council that the warships of the Philippine Navy will not be allowed to tag along with the Philippine Coast Guard in Bajo de Masinloc. 

“Napakaliwanag ng direktiba ng ating Pangulo, hindi tayo magpo-provoke kasi we do not know what will happen if there two Navy vessels are there. Kasi doon pwede mangyari yung miscalculation, yung misjudgement,” said NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez on Monday. 

“...and if it ever escalates, it is not to the best interest of our country,” he added. –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News