MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. admitted that the Philippines has no means of kicking out China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” from the country’s territorial waters.
According to the Chief Executive, despite the challenges the country is facing on the matter, he promised that the government would continue to defend its rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EZZ).
“We don’t have the means na paalisin…Buti kung mayroon tayong aircraft carrier na may kasamang destroyer, frigate, at saka submarine na papupuntahin natin doon para matulak silang palayo. Wala naman tayong ganoon,” Marcos said.
He added: “Kung sa palakihan at paramihan lang ng barko, malayo tayo sa China. Pero ang policy naman natin is that we will just continue to defend our territorial, our sovereign territory and our territorial rights in our EEZ.”
President Marcos, however, emphasized that the Philippines will maintain its presence in the disputed waters, regardless of the actions taken by China.
“They will always find Philippine presence, no matter what they do. Kahit na banggain ang barko natin, kahit mag-water cannon sila, mag-laser sila, kahit mag-block sila – kahit anong gawin nila, laging nandiyan ang Pilipinas,” Marcos said.
“We will always be there protecting our territory. We will always be there making sure our fishermen are able to exercise their sovereign rights,” the President stressed further.
Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China’s claims, but the latter has refused to recognize the decision./PN
