Boats off north Luzon suggest Chinese interest in Luzon Strait –security expert

The presence of Chinese fishing vessels off northern Luzon for the past two months may be related to China’s military drills around Taiwan, a security expert said on Monday.

According to Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras,” satellite images released by maritime expert Ray Powell showed not only the return of Chinese fishing militia vessels near Palawan's Pag-asa Island but also the presence of Chinese fishing boats off northern Luzon.

The vessels off northern Luzon which are just outside of the Philippine exclusive economic zone, said security expert Professor Renato de Castro, was possibly an indication of Beijing’s interest in taking control of the Luzon Strait.

The Luzon Strait lies between Luzon and Taiwan.

“Yes... surveillance, reconnaissance, testing the waters,” said de Castro. “This is an indication that they are really interested in having control over the Luzon Strait and this came out last week. The Carrier Shandong passed through the Bashi Channel, which is part, of course, of the Luzon Strait.”

GMA Integrated News is still seeking comment from the Chinese Embassy on the matter.

Apart from the humanitarian response, surveilling possible threats to Philippine sovereignty was among the purposes of the four new sites under the country's Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US, the report said.

The additional sites were located on Balabac Island in Palawan and in Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; and Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela which are both near Taiwan and the Benham Rise.

The five current EDCA locations are Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said the EDCA sites would not be used for offensive actions and China should not see it as a threat against them.

“Hindi tayo papayag na gamitin ang mga bases natin para sa kahit anong offensive na action. Ito ay para lamang tulungan ang Pilipinas, kapag nangangailangan ng tulong ang Pilipinas,” said Marcos Jr.

(We will not allow our bases to be used for offensive actions. This is just to help the Philippines whenever we need it.)

“Kaya’t kung wala naman sumusugod sa atin, hindi na sila kailangan mag-alala dahil hindi naman sila natin lalabanan...Ang ginagawa lamang natin ay ipagpatuloy natin na pinagtibay natin ang depensa ng ating teritoryo, ang pagdepensa ng Republika,” he said.

(If no one attacks us, then we don’t need to fight. What we’re doing is to continue strengthening the defense of our territory and our republic.)

Signed in 2014, the EDCA grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities and allows them to build facilities, and preposition equipment, aircraft, and vessels. Permanent basing is prohibited. — DVM, GMA Integrated News