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Several vessels under repair to be deployed to West PH Sea: Philippine Navy chief

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Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/02/03/20200203-giovanni-carlo-bacordo.jpg"/><figcaption>Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo. <em>Photo from Philippine Navy Facebook page</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The country&#x27;s navy chief said Tuesday there are several vessels currently under repair that will be deployed to the West Philippine Sea, in response to the directive of Armed Forces chief-of-staff General Cirilito Sobejana.</p><p>Vice Admiral Giovanni Bacordo said the Navy has never backed down from patrolling the West Philippine Sea and would continue to do so, with plans to increase not just the number of patrol sea craft but also the operational tempo of ships already there.</p><p>Shortly after his installation as AFP chief earlier February, Sobejana expressed concern over <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/25/21/ph-says-use-of-force-generally-prohibited-as-china-lets-coast-guard-fire-on-foreign-vessels" target="_blank">China&#x27;s new law</a> which authorizes its coast guard to fire at foreign vessels and tear down structures built by other countries.</p><p>Calling the mandate “alarming” and a threat to the safety of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, Sobejana directed the Navy to send more sea craft to protect them.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/09/21/new-military-chief-says-to-boost-sea-patrols-over-alarming-china-coast-guard-law">New military chief says to boost sea patrols over &#x27;alarming&#x27; China coast guard law</a></li></ul><p>The Philippines has lodged a <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/28/21/palace-protest-vs-china-coast-guard-law-shows-philippines-will-assert-all-rights" target="_blank">diplomatic protest</a> over the China coast guard law. </p><p>Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana said meanwhile Chinese officials have sought to convince their Filipino counterparts that Beijing is &quot;not targeting&quot; the Philippines with the new law.</p><p>“The Chinese have reassured us... that they are not targeting the Philippines or any specific country, and that they will not resort to force,” said Sta. Romana.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/02/16/21/china-says-not-targeting-philippines-with-coast-guard-law">China says &#x27;not targeting&#x27; Philippines with coast guard law</a></li></ul><p>The Philippines has maritime disputes with China, which aggressively asserts its claims over almost the entire West Philippine Sea, or internationally known as the South China Sea. </p><p>Despite a 2016 ruling of a UN-backed tribunal which invalidates Beijing&#x27;s expansive claims to the resource-rich waters, China has aggressively expanded its claims there, building military bases and testing its missiles over the sea.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_M-NJs-YP6g?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>MANILA - The country's navy chief said Tuesday there are several vessels currently under repair that will be deployed to the West Philippine Sea, in response to the directive of Armed Forces chief-of-staff General Cirilito Sobejana.</p>

MANILA - The country's navy chief said Tuesday there are several vessels currently under repair that will be deployed to the West Philippine Sea, in response to the directive of Armed Forces chief-of-staff General Cirilito Sobejana.

Several vessels under repair to be deployed to West PH Sea: Philippine Navy chief

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Several vessels under repair to be deployed to West PH Sea: Philippine Navy chief

Chiara Zambrano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 16, 2021 10:37 PM PHT

|

Updated Feb 16, 2021 11:11 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Navy

Vice Admiral Giovanni Bacordo

West Philippine Sea

South China Sea

AFP

Sobejana

Cirilito Sobejana

China

Philippines

China Coast Guard

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