The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) expressed support for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. following his strong stance against China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said Marcos’ recent remarks were reassuring for the agency.
“Hearing the President acknowledge China’s acts of laser pointing, ramming, and harassment of our Filipino fishermen is heartening for us,” Tarriela said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.
Marcos Calls Out China’s Actions
Marcos urged China to halt its provocations in the WPS, responding to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who called on the Philippines to remove US missile launchers reportedly relocated to Luzon.
The President issued a blunt challenge:
“Let’s make a deal with China: Stop claiming our territory, stop harassing our fishermen, 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.”
“Itigil nila ‘yung ginagawa nila, ibabalik ko lahat ‘yan,” he added. (If they stop what they’re doing, I’ll return everything.)
Tensions in the West Philippine Sea
The PCG recently reported four Chinese vessels near the Zambales coast, including the massive China Coast Guard (CCG) 5901 “monster ship.”
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with territorial claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. However, a 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague declared China’s claims had “no legal basis.” Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling.
With tensions escalating, the PCG, AFP, and Filipino fisherfolk continue to monitor China’s activities, while the Marcos administration takes a firm stance in defending Philippine sovereignty.