PCG to urge China to probe WPS collisions

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set to write to China and urge Beijing to conduct a probe on the collisions of vessels from the two countries in the West Philippine Sea. 

“Sa pagkaalam ko rin po, nagpre-prepare din tayo ng sulat para sulatan iyong maritime safety administration ng China,” PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing on Thursday.

(From what I know, we are preparing a letter to the maritime safety administration of China.)

“Kasi aksidente ito, iyong fishing vessel ay under sa flag state nila, dapat ma-imbestigahan din nila. Kasi it is incumbent upon them also to conduct their own investigation, katulad po noong ginagawa natin,” he added.

(Because it was an accident that involved a vessel under their flag state. They should conduct their own investigation like what we are doing.)

According to Balilo, the Coast Guard District Palawan is expected to complete and submit its report on the incident to the PCG Headquarters on Friday.

A China Coast Guard vessel on Sunday collided with an Armed Forces of the Philippines-contracted boat going to the Ayungin Shoal to resupply the personnel staying on the BRP Sierra Madre.

During the same mission, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel MRRV 4409’s port side was also “bumped” by Chinese maritime militia vessel 00003 (CMMV 00003).

Ayungin Shoal is located 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan and constitutes part of the country's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf as provided under a United Nations convention.

The Department of Foreign Affairs summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian over the incident.

In response, Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong said he conveyed "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition of the Chinese side to the Philippine side over its vessels’ intrusion over its so-called waters."

Zhou maintained that Ayungin Shoal, which he referred to as  Ren’ai Jiao, "is part of China’s Nansha Qundao and China’s territory."  —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News