ASEANEWS HEADLINE-ASIA GEOPOLITICS | MANILA: Philippines alarmed by Chinese ships moving closer to shore
China says actions ‘in accordance with law’ after Philippines alarmed by ship movement
Philippines alarmed over China ‘monster ship’ moving closer to land
This handout aerial photo taken on Jan. 13, 2025 and released by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on January 14 shows Chinese Coast Guard ship 5901 sailing in the South China Sea. The Philippines said on January 14 it was alarmed by Chinese coast guard patrols which are growing closer to the country’s shore. The 165-meter (540-foot) ship was last located 143 kilometers (89 miles) west of Capones Island in Zambales province./Photo by handout / Philippine Coast Guard / AFP
.
The Philippines said China’s deployment this month of a “monster” coast guard vessel demonstrated Beijing’s “increasing aggression” in the disputed waterway.
“It’s getting closer to the Philippine coastline… and that is alarming,” National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya told journalists Tuesday.
Chinese ships have been deployed closer to the Philippine coast this year, Malaya told AFP, with the latest movements an “intimidation tactic” intended to discourage Filipino fishing.
“We do not and will not dignify these scare tactics by backing down. We do not waver, or cower in the face of intimidation,” Malaya said.
The 165-meter (540-foot) “monster ship” was last located 143 kilometers (89 miles) west of Capones Island in Zambales province.
Jay Tarriela, a Philippine Coast Guard spokesman, said “it doesn’t really carry out very aggressive action, but its mere presence is already concerning”.
|
|
The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed 84-meter and 97-meter vessels to pressure the Chinese ship “to move further away from the coast of Zambales”, Tarriela said.
Chinese patrol ships had come as close as 111 kilometers (69 miles) west of the main Philippine island of Luzon this year, Tarriela said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said its coast guard patrols are “in accordance with the law” and “beyond reproach”.
|
|
“We once again warn the Philippine side to immediately stop all infringement, provocation, and hyping, and stop all actions that undermine peace and tranquility in the South China Sea and complicate the situation,” Guo told a news conference.
|
|
Memento Maxima Digital Marketing
