The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) maintained professionalism in dealing with Chinese maritime forces near Sandy Cay last Friday.
PCG Spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said the scientific survey operations of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) — with PCG support– had to be suspended because of harassment from three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in the area.
Tarriela said the CCG vessels also deployed four speedboats to prevent the BFAR rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) in reaching Sandy Cays 2 and 3.
The Chinese also launched its Navy helicopter and hovered in a “very unsafe altitude,” Tarriela said.
Amid the challenges, the PCG were firm in handling the situation in a non-escalatory approach, Tarriela stressed.
“Ang panindigan ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, we have to deal with them professionally. We should not be instigated. And this kind of bullying should not result to an escalatory response on the part of the Philippine government,” Tarriela said.
“So, what we’re doing is we document all of these bullying and aggressive actions of the People’s Republic of China. We also publicize this for the Filipino people and the international community to learn about such unlawful activities of the People’s Republic of China,” he added.
Tarriela praised the seamanship skills of BFAR and PCG personnel manning the Philippine vessels.
“[The CCG vessels] conducted dangerous maneuvers. Thanks to the [dependable] seamanship of the BFAR personnel and those Coast Guard onboard. They were able to prevent some incidents that would result to collision,” he said. (PND)
