Palace backs DFA move to ban survey ships in Philippine waters

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has supported the move of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to include China in the list of countries whose survey vessels are prohibited in Philippine waters.

DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. issued the ban after recurrent sightings of Chinese survey vessels in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) without the government’s permission.

READ: Locsin ‘will universalize ban’ on survey ships ‘by adding China’

Two Chinese survey ships have been recently spotted operating within the Philippines’ EEZ.

Presidential spokesperson Panelo said it would not oppose DFA’s move.

“No, basta kung ano ‘yong sinabi ng department, ‘yon ang policy ng administration, unless the President makes another policy statement,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Chinese oceanographic survey ship “Zhanjian” was spotted operating 80 nautical miles off the east coast of the Philippines while Dong Fang Hong, another Chinese survey ship, also entered in the country’s EEZ without the government’s consent.

DFA has protested the presence of Chinese survey ships in Philippine waters. /kga