National Maritime Council, tinawag na ‘unprofessional’ at delikado ang aksiyon ng CCG na nagdulot ng pagkasira ng dalawang barko ng PCG
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00:00The National Maritime Council called the Chinese Coast Guard's unprofessional and dangerous
00:04incident of hijacking the Philippine ships in Escudoshoal.
00:10Once again, the Philippines continues to defend in a peaceful manner
00:15the rights and jurisdictions in the West Philippine Sea.
00:18Alan Francisco with the report.
00:22One of those options that we are considering, as you all know, in any activities in the past,
00:29our Department of Foreign Affairs would probably file a diplomatic protest or not verbal,
00:40and this is being seriously studied by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
00:46That is what National Maritime Council Spokesperson Alexander Lopez declared
00:50until the next action of the Philippine government
00:53after the Escudoshoal incident.
00:56If it can be remembered, two Philippine Coast Guard ships were damaged after the Chinese vessels were hijacked.
01:03In the statement issued by the National Maritime Council,
01:06they highlighted the incident in Escudoshoal on August 19.
01:11According to the Council,
01:13BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño were carrying out their regular and routine logistics missions
01:19in the West Philippine Sea on August 18.
01:22However, on the morning of August 19,
01:24the Chinese Coast Guard vessels were hijacked
01:27for the purpose of damaging the Philippine Coast Guard vessels.
01:31According to the Council,
01:32the incident is an unprofessional and dangerous action of the Chinese Coast Guard.
01:37It is also one of their violations of international law.
01:39These unprofessional and dangerous actions of the Chinese Coast Guard vessels
01:45were in violation of international law, including UNCLOS.
01:50And the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,
01:58or COLREGS.
02:01These illegal actions do not contribute to confidence-building measures
02:06necessary for the improvement of relations on the basis of mutual respect
02:12and for a rules-based international order.
02:16Hence, the Philippines urges China to refrain from aggressive actions
02:22and adhere to international law.
02:25Therefore, the Philippines urged China to avoid aggressive actions
02:29and to violate international law.
02:31The Philippines is responsible for any harassment committed by China
02:35to the sovereignty of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.
02:38According to the National Maritime Council,
02:40the Philippines continues to uphold a peaceful way for the rights and restrictions in the West Philippine Sea.
02:47Well, in line with the President's directive,
02:50because if we would be going beyond diplomatic or peaceful approach,
02:56you can just imagine, maybe if you're referring to more kinetic actions,
03:01that would not be to the best interest of our country and of China and even in the region.
03:07So we're looking at this approach.
03:10We can never go wrong by using this diplomatic and peaceful approach.
03:15And we are compliant to the Code of Conduct that we have signed in 2002,
03:22that among others, parties will restrain, will exercise restraint in the conduct of activities
03:29that would complicate or even escalate the dispute in the area, among others.
03:35Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines believes
03:39that Sabina or Escoda Shoal is not yet a new flashpoint or center of tension in the West Philippine Sea.
03:45Another PCG ship, BRP Teresa Magbanwa,
03:48that was docked in Escoda Shoal since April to monitor the so-called crash corrals,
03:54will also remain in Escoda Shoal.
03:57The AFP also denied the presence of Chinese ships in any part of the West Philippine Sea.
04:03There are more than 100 Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea.
04:07The two Chinese research vessels, Alan Francisco, have already left for Pabansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.