Philippine officials also said that after patrolling around Scarborough Shoal in the East Sea, the Chinese coast guard ship moved toward the northwest coast of the Philippines today January 14, approaching 77 nautical miles (143 km). ), according to AP.
Mr. Jay Tarriela, an officer with the Philippine Coast Guard, said that two Philippine coast guard ships, supported by a small surveillance aircraft, repeatedly ordered the 165-meter-long Chinese coast guard ship mentioned above to withdraw. “the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines”.
Photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard shows Chinese Coast Guard ship 5901 in Manila waters, which it claims is in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone on January 13.
“The presence of this monster ship in Philippine waters… 77 nautical miles from our coast is unacceptable and therefore, the Chinese government should immediately withdraw the ship,” Mr. Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the National Security Council of the Philippines, spoke at a press conference alongside senior military and coast guard officials.
“You are forcing us into a corner,” Mr. Malaya said of China. “We do not and will not uphold these intimidation tactics by backing down. We do not flinch or yield to intimidation. On the contrary, it strengthens our resolve because we know we true,” Mr. Malaya emphasized.
“Will this lead to another lawsuit? All options are on the table because the closer this giant ship is to Philippine waters, the more tensions increase and the more the Philippine government considers what that they have never considered before,” Mr. Malaya said.
When asked about Mr. Malaya’s above statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiacon affirmed that the coast guard’s patrols were legal and legitimate, according to AP. “We once again call on the Philippines to immediately stop all acts of infringement, provocation and malicious exaggeration,” Mr. Quach said.
