The Philippines has adopted a more assertive stance in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) under the Marcos administration, according to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela.
“We are more assertive if that will be the much more appropriate diplomatic term. We are more assertive in our position in the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela said in a news forum in Quezon City.
He added, “Since day 1 of President Bongbong Marcos, he has explicitly committed that this government will never surrender a square inch of our territory to any foreign [country].”
The official noted the Philippines’ deepining security alliances, not only with the United States but also with European Union members, Australia, and Japan.
The WPS has been a priority topic during the President’s international visits, according to him.
“So, all of these are in response to the constant aggression of the Chinese government. So, if you’re going to ask me whether we have a much firmer stand in our position in the West Philippine Sea under President Bongbong Marcos, I think so.”
Tarriela said that Marcos Jr. has directed the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the PCG to protect the rights and ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen in the WPS. However, BFAR and PCG vessels continue to face harassment from Chinese vessels.
He cited a recent incident where BFAR’s scientific survey operations were disrupted by three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels. The CCG deployed four speedboats to block BFAR’s inflatable boats from reaching Sandy Cays 2 and 3, while a Chinese Navy helicopter hovered in a “very unsafe altitude.”IMT
