PCG encouraged by Marcos stand vs China WPS provocations
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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Friday that it was encouraged by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s firm stance against China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Hearing the President mentioning all those aggressive actions na ginawa ng China na pangla-laser, pangbabanga, pangha-harass ng ating mangingisdang Pilipino, parang nakakaluwag ng loob para sa part ng PCG,” PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said on Super Radyo dzBB.
(Hearing the President acknowledge China’s acts of laser pointing, ramming, and harassment of our Filipino fishermen is heartening for us.)
For Tarriela, Marcos’ remarks demonstrated the President’s full awareness of the challenges faced by the PCG, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Filipino fisherfolk.
“Dahil all of those things na binanggit ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, ibig sabihin he is fully knowledgeable kung ano ang pinagdadaanan ng PCG, AFP, at mga mangingisdang Pilipino,” he said.
(All of the issues he mentioned show that he is well-informed about what the PCG, AFP, and our fishermen are going through.)
Marcos called on China to cease its provocations in the WPS after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged the Philippines to “correct the wrongdoing” by removing US missile launchers reportedly relocated to Luzon.
"Let’s make a deal with China: Stop claiming our territory, stop harassing our fishermen and let them have a living, stop ramming our boats, stop water cannoning our people, stop firing lasers at us, and stop your aggressive and coercive behavior, and I'll return the Typhon missiles,” Marcos declared.
“Itigil nila ‘yung ginagawa nila, ibabalik ko lahat ‘yan,” he added.
(If they stop what they’re doing, I’ll return everything.)
The PCG had reported that four Chinese vessels, including the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) massive 5901 “monster ship,” were recently spotted near the coast of Zambales.
Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with territorial claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
However, in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, stating China’s claims had “no legal basis.”
Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
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