Coast Guard: PH won’t respond to a bully’s provocation

GOVERNMENT will not allow itself to be provoked by China into retaliating against its harassment of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the strategy of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea is not be provoked.”

The PCG is one of the key members of the task force which is headed by National Security Adviser Eduardo Año. The Armed Forces is also a member of the task force.

“Of course that’s their (Chinese) intention. They keep on provoking us but we have to carry out all possible means to prevent escalation of tension,” Tarriela said in a radio interview.

“That’s their (Chinese) intention but do not expect the (Philippine) Coast Guard to escalate the tension and respond to their provocation,” added Tarriela.

China has been harassing PCG vessels and military-contracted wooden boats delivering supplies to troops at the BRP Sierra Madre which is serving as a military outpost at Ayungin Shoal.

The latest Chinese harassment occurred last Friday. Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels conducted dangerous maneuvers against three PCG vessels and two supply boats. One of the Chinese Coast Guard vessels fired water cannon on one of the supply boats. The supply boat and the other boat successfully delivered the supplies despite the harassment.

“We are not going to do that and say we’re just responding to a bully,” said Tarriela on the possibility of PCG vessels retaliating with water cannon.

“We have the moral high ground to show the whole world that it’s only China who is the bully here, China is the only violator of international laws,” he added.

The PCG earlier said its ships are equipped with water cannons.

Tarriela reiterated their water cannons should be used only in extinguishing fire.

In a TV interview, Tarriela said they are expecting China to harass the next resupply missions to troops at Ayungin Shoal.

Tarriela said the Chinese have committee various forms of harassment near Ayungin Shoal, including water cannoning, pointing of military-grade lasers that caused temporary blindness of crew