The President said both the Philippines and China were signatories to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention.
“The point is, in fairness to China and our case also, the Philippine Navy vessel has been withdrawn for quite a number of days already, as soon as the Coast Guard arrived,†Aquino said.
The President said the Coast Guard vessel will continue to station a vessel in Scarborough Shoal.
When asked why the Chinese fishermen were allowed to leave with their illegal catch, Aquino said “would it be good if we send all our maritime vessels, prevent the Chinese maritime surveillance vessels that are unarmed and force China to react by sending their own military forces?
“Would the escalation serve the national interest? That is the only question,†he said.
“I suppose the first vessel that we have at the area was a Philippine Navy vessel and, as soon as possible, we dispatched the Coast Guard vessel which is, as you know, a civilian component – it is under the DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications), it’s not even a (Department of National Defense)-attached entity or agency – just to demonstrate that we want to de-escalate the situation. Let me emphasize, to de-escalate the situation,†Aquino said.
“We are in constant touch (with the Chinese embassy),†the President said, clarifying earlier reports that he had talked with Chinese Ambassador to Manila Ma Keqing.
“I hadn’t talked to Ambassador Ma. It was always through the secretary of Foreign Affairs. And, right now, since the secretary of Foreign Affairs is in America for various conferences that had previously been scheduled, it’s Undersecretary Linda Basilio who will be talking to Ambassador Ma. So we’re continuing that dialogue,’ Aquino said.
“We haven’t stopped exploring all of the other avenues. We have raised our points during the last ASEAN summit regarding this. And we are still steadfast that we have two missions – one, not to escalate the situation; and, two, to protect our sovereignty,†the President said.
He also emphasized that there was no connection between the US-Philippine Balikatan exercises and the Scarborough incident.
“There is no benefit if, during the time that we are de-escalating the situation, we will place something there that has the potential of being complained by both parties,†Aquino said. “I’m hopeful that reasonable people… can come up with a situation that will resolve the situation.â€
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, before leaving for the US Sunday to attend a conference, said the Philippines is sticking to diplomacy in resolving the Scarborough issue even if it remains unyielding in its position that the area is Philippine territory.
He said the Philippines should take action following China’s redeployment of one of its ships to Scarborough. But he did not specify what action to take.
“Whatever it may be, we would wish to diffuse current challenge but would need to defend our sovereignty and sovereign rights,†Del Rosario told The STAR.
New ship
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard has deployed another ship to Scarborough to relieve the BRP Pampanga.
Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, Northern Luzon (Nolcom) commander, said that BRP EDSA DOS (SAR-002) arrived in the vicinity yesterday morning.
The Pampanga was en route to Manila’s South Harbor for re-provisioning.
Two Chinese vessels – Zhonggou Haijan 75 and Zhonggou Haijan 84 – are still in the area.
Alcantara, however, described the situation in Scarborough yesterday as generally peaceful.
For his part, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa admitted that the country’s military was in “tumultuous times.â€
“It is common knowledge to everyone that we are in the midst of tumultuous times in terms of internal security. As threats from within were addressed swiftly and thoroughly, we remain in a shadow of doubt pertaining to certain international issues,†Dellosa said, without directly referring to the standoff at Scarborough.
“It is imperative for our ground forces to sustain operational readiness, keeping in mind the critical times that we are in now,†he said.
The Navy, for its part, said it is ready to assist the Coast Guard in asserting the country’s territorial rights over Scarborough.
“The Navy is basically on standby on whatever instructions will be given to us... we cannot make the decision on our (own) at this level. We leave it to the higher authorities and we will comply with whatever instructions are given,†Navy chief Rear Admiral Alexander Pama said.
Pama was responding to questions on whether the Navy would send another ship to the shoal to relieve the one deployed in the area.
Pama said the Navy’s largest warship Gregorio del Pilar is ready to perform whatever directive would be given to it.
Pama said the Del Pilar is in Poro Point in La Union to load supplies and provisions.
“My boys need rest,†he said, referring to the officers and crew of the warship.
“We are continuously monitoring the situation in the area, As of this time, (the situation is) very stable, very normal,†Alcantara said.
--By Aurea Calica (Philstar News Service,
www.philstar.com), with Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee-Brago.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=49390.0