China aggression shows intent in taking over Philippine waters: expert

China's continued aggression against Philippine vessels, both civilian and government-owned ships, shows their intent in taking over Philippine waters, an international maritime expert said Monday.

The Chinese Coast Guard used water cannon on a Philippine resupply convoy to Ayungin Shoal on Sunday and and also rammed civilian ship Unaizah Mae 1, according to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

• Water cannon, ramming damage PH ships on Ayungin resupply: Tarriela

Chinese ships also used aggressive maneuvers and water cannons to block a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources attempt to bring supplies to Filipino fishers near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough, Panatag) off Zambales

• Chinese ships, water cannon try to stop BFAR resupply at Scarborough

"'Yan po ang nagpapapakita na ang intensyon ng Tsina ay agawin ang ating karagatan. Ni hindi pa nga nakakalapit halos, binubuntutan na. Bale parang tinatakot na ang ating mga tauhan, mga barko para hindi na sila magtuloy. 'Yan po magpapakita ang tunay na mukha ng Tsina,"
Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo article.

Batongbacal blamed the Duterte administration for allowing intrusions in Philippine waters, which has led to the present situation.

He said the Philippines is now in effect being limited to only 22 nautical miles in the West Philippine Sea instead of the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone" beyond a nation's territorial sea.

"Kaya nangyayari 'yan ngayon dahil pinagbigyan ng pinagbigyan ng previous administration kaya namimihasa na talaga ang Tsina na hindi tayo palalabasin sa 9-dash line ika nga. Ang karagatan natin binabawasan nila at balewala tayo, na hanggang 22 nautical miles ang ating West Philippine Sea kung ganun," he said.

In the interview, Batongbacal enumerated a list of other aggressions by China including destruction of coral reefs and stopping Filipino fishermen from fishing in Philippine waters.

• Maritime expert fears collapse of Philippine fisheries
• Pag-asa fishermen compete with foreign vessels for catch

He noted that Chinese vessels being used in the reclamation of Manila Bay are the same vessels used to create artificial islands in Philippine territory.

"Pinagsasamantalahan na nila tayo and yet patuloy pa rin ang pang-aagaw nila sa ating karagatan," he said.

EXTREME MEASURES

Batongbacal cited several extreme measures that the Philippines could take including banning Chinese investments in the country as well as a ban on nickel exports to China.

"Pagdating sa investment nila dito sa bansa ay dapat siguro ipagbawal na natin at paalisin na sila kung ganyan din lang ang nangyayari. Yung mga exports natin sa kanila kagaya ng nickel na kailangan na kailangan nila sa paggawa ng bakal ay dapat sigurong itigil na natin. 'Yun ang mga extreme measures talaga," he said.

Recalling the Philippine ambassador to China would also send a serious signal that is preparatory to cutting off diplomatic relations, he said.

Asked if the Philippines could afford to cut off diplomatic ties with Beijing, he said: "Hindi siguro dahil dami ng produkto na binibili natin sa kanila. Problema din 'yun dahil nagiging masyado tayong dependent sa kanila. Marami tayong in-export sa kanila, particular raw materials at electronics, mga semiconductors, transistors na ginagamit nila. Tapos tayo naman bili tayo ng bili ng mga consumer goods. Dahil nga mura sa kanila, parang nagiging dependent tayo. Kung bigla mong ititigil 'yan baka magka-problema tayo sa availability ng goods. This will worsen 'yung issue natin sa inflation. Hindi ganun kadali 'yun."

He also noted China sees the Philippines as easily divided as seen by pro-China narratives on social media.

"Ang inaasahan nila sa pananakot at pagbabanta na to’ ay aatras tayo. Su-surrender tayo dahil sa tingin nila mahina tayo at madali tayong i-divide, kaya ngayon napaka-active ng mga pro-China trolls at mga propagandist nila," Batongbacal said.

"Alam nila in previous years nakapadaling paghati-hatiin ng mga Pilipino at dahil dun sa tingin nila basta pinalala pa nila ng konti, nag-escalate pa sila ulit, which is what they are doing now, tingin nila 'yung pagiging open society natin at pagiging malaya sa pamamahayag, freedom of expression, pwede nilang pagsamantalahan 'yun para mapahina ang commitment ng gobyerno at ng bansa mismo dito sa kanyang mga karapatan. 'Yun talaga ang dahilan kung bakit tayo pinapakitaan ng mga ganitong aksyon (ng China) para matakot 'yung mga mismong nandun at magkaroon ng internal division sa ating population, para humina ang loob ng gobyerno and then eventually ay sumurender na, ibigay na sa kanila ang lahat ng gusto nila particular ang karagatan ng Pilipinas," he said.