PCG seeks more visits from US, Japan counterparts

The Philippine Coast Guard has invited its US and Japan counterparts to make frequent visits to the country and conduct regular maritime exercises in territorial waters to demonstrate their commitment as allies to help keep the West Philippine Sea free, safe and secure.

- EVELYN MACAIRAN

In a statement, the PCG said the US and the Japan coast guards were among the first to reaffirm their adherence to keeping regional waters secure in the face of China’s growing aggressiveness in staking claims in almost the entire South China Sea. The PCG, the US Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard voiced their commitment at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore from May 31 to June 2 organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The security conference was held against the backdrop of China’s imposing a fishing ban in the South China Sea until Sept. 16.

Beijing had also directed its coast guard to detain for 60 days without trial any foreign “trespassers” in areas that it claims are within its territorial waters. At the conference, PCG chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan urged the USCG and the JCG to develop new ways to address emerging new threat in the high seas, including China’s restrictions on the movement of foreign vessels on its “self-declared boundaries.”

PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo explained that it was within such context that they requested the USCG and the JCG to “have more frequent visits to the Philippines and to participate in more maritime exercises with the PCG.”

Balilo admitted the PCG has yet to “work out the details” of its coordination or cooperation with the USCG and the JCG.

“But the good thing about this is that the USCG and the JCG agreed. All three coast guard organizations are moving toward one direction,” Balilo said.

The JCG, meanwhile, has recognized the PCG’s “courageous and law-abiding stance” in the face of constant harassment from China and proposed the conduct of more personnel exchanges to create a robust network of coast guard bodies devoted to strict maritime law enforcement in accordance with the rule of law.