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Foreign escort for PH ships? ‘Kaya pa naman natin,’ says maritime council

Article (news)

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172672964774220240515-atin-ito-wps-MT-37.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The presence of the China Coast Guard (CCG) persists despite the effort of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to block them and assist the four main vessels of the second civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, May 16, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">The presence of the China Coast Guard (CCG) persists despite the effort of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to block them and assist the four main vessels of the second civilian resupply mission of the Atin Ito Coalition to the Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, May 16, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – The Philippine National Maritime Council said Thursday there was no need yet to seek “escort support” from the country’s allies for its vessels in the West Philippine Sea, despite China’s increasing aggression in the area.</p><p>“Nagpapasalamat tayo na nandoon iyong kanilang [suporta], pero hindi naman porke may problema tayo ay dudulog kaagad tayo kasi well we have a dignity as a nation, kaya pa naman natin,” NMC Spokesperson Alexander Lopez said in a televised briefing.</p><p>“Kaya pa, kayang-kaya pa naman. At saka marami tayong pamamaraan.”</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/27/us-could-escort-philippine-resupply-missions-in-west-ph-sea-admiral-says-1720">U.S. could escort Philippine resupply missions in West PH Sea, admiral says</a></div><p>The official made the statement after Philippine vessels were repeatedly rammed by Chinese Coast Guard ships near the Escoda Shoal.</p><p>This includes the Philippine Coast Guard’s flagship, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, which was forced to return to Palawan after it was damaged when it was hit several times by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/17/over-60-chinese-ships-spotted-at-escoda-after-pcg-s-pullout-1334">Over 60 Chinese ships spotted at Escoda after PCG&#x27;s pullout</a></div><p>A top US Navy official earlier said that the United States was open to escorting Philippine vessels on resupply missions, calling it “an entirely reasonable option within the (US-PH) Mutual Defense Treaty.”</p><p>Lopez said that the Philippine government could make an executive decision to seek help from other allied countries should the situation in the West Philippine Sea escalate.</p><p>“Siguro, when push comes to shove; when worse comes to worst then that will now be an executive decision whether we will accede to their request or we will ask for direction. So it’s an executive decision,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/26/china-says-took-control-measures-against-philippine-ships-near-disputed-reef-1651">China says took &#x27;control measures&#x27; against Philippine ships near disputed reef</a></div><p>Lopez assured that the Philippines continued to have its strategic presence in Escoda Shoal despite the departure of the BRP Teresa Magbanua from the area.</p><p>“Marami pang pamamaraan – puwedeng teknikalidad ‘no, technical, pagpapalipad ng eroplano at paggamit din ng ating mga mangingisda para magbigay ng impormasyon na kinakailangan natin para sabihin nating alam natin iyong nangyayari doon sa lugar na iyon,” the official said.</p><p>“I cannot divulge the number (of Philippine vessels) but in combination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in particular iyong ating Philippine Navy, ay continuous naman ang ating pagpapatrolya. Continuous ang paglalayag para again mapanatili natin ang ating presensiya sa lugar na iyon,” he continued.</p><p>The NMC spokesman said the Philippines remained undeterred despite <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/9/12/china-will-crush-foreign-encroachment-in-south-china-sea-military-official-1250">China’s recent threat to “crush any foreign hostile encroachment&quot;</a> in the South China Sea.</p><p>“Alam ninyo, wala namang bago sa narrative nilang iyon. They have issued same narrative, different context lang so basically, it’s an intimidation on their part. At nakikita namin iyong target audience nila is internal kasi sa ating kaalyado and even the tinatawag nilang like-minded nations, nobody believes, nobody buys that narrative,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/9/chinese-ships-interfered-anew-in-emergency-evacuation-of-filipino-soldier-pcg-2127">Chinese ships interfered anew in emergency evacuation of Filipino soldier: PCG</a></div>

<p>The Philippine National Maritime Council said Thursday there was no need yet to seek “escort support” from the country’s allies for its vessels in the West Philippine Sea, despite China’s increasing aggression in the area.</p>

The Philippine National Maritime Council said Thursday there was no need yet to seek “escort support” from the country’s allies for its vessels in the West Philippine Sea, despite China’s increasing aggression in the area.