Philippines must show China allies are willing to help defend WPS – expert – Philippine Canadian Inquirer

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Philippines must show China that it is not alone as it has allies willing to help defend the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a maritime expert said Saturday.

University of the Philippines Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea director Jay Batongbacal has warned that China will continue to harass the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea (SCS), including the WPS, until Manila concedes.

At the Saturday Information Forum in Quezon City, Batongbacal said it was important for the Philippines to show courage as it was obvious that it would not be able to deter China’s aggression in the SCS alone.

“For this, the simplest solution is ipakita natin na hindi kami pipitsugin lamang na pwede mong i-ignore, which is the tapak-tapakan language. Kumbaga meron pa rin tayong asim. Pwede pa rin tayong kumagat et mahalagang ipakita natin na kapag tayo kumagat, kapag tayo ay lumaban, hindi lang tayo nag-iisa, maraming tutulong sa atin “For us, of course, the solution is to show that we are not someone who can be ignored, who can just be trampled on. Show them that we can fight. We can still fight and it is important that we show them that when we fight, we are not alone, there are many people who will help us,” Batongbacal said.

However, invoking the Philippines’ alliance with other countries to protect the WPS should only be a last resort, Batongbacal said.

Manila should instead continue to assert its sovereign rights over Philippine waters.

Batongbacal said the Philippines should not be easily swayed by China’s new tactic to escalate tensions in Escoda Shoal, adding that the government should continue to patrol the entire WPS.

He said China is only distracting the Philippines by trying to make the Escoda Shoal the new “hot spot” in the maritime dispute between the two countries.

Beijing is confident that it is strong enough to intimidate and dominate the Philippines, he added.

“As for China’s intention, it concerns the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea. For masakop nila iyan, kailangang maipakita nila with the constant presence of the Kanilang patrol, as well as the Kanilang armed forces and law enforcement “Let us remember that China’s intention is to occupy the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. To achieve this, it must be able to demonstrate the constant presence of its patrols, especially its armed forces and law enforcement agencies,” Batongbacal said.

“Talagang itutuloy nila iyan. Pupunuin nila iyan takes care of the Philippines (They will certainly continue like this. They will occupy it until the Philippines surrenders.)

Batongbacal said China’s aggressive acts in Scarborough and Ayungin Shoals will continue, but the Philippines should not focus on them at all times.

“Hindi dapat tayo madistract niyan dahil ang dapat nating tinitignan ano ‘yung kabuuan ng sinasakop de Chine, ganitong klaseng mga taktika “We should not be distracted by this, because what we should be looking at is the whole Chinese occupation and these kinds of tactics,” Batongbacal said.

The Philippines is considering filing a complaint with an international body following recent dangerous maneuvers by Chinese coast guard vessels against Philippine coast guard vessels in waters adjacent to Escoda Bank.