Dr. Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea. INQUIRER.net file photo
MANILA, Philippines — The unprecedented move of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) warship toward a Philippine vessel indicates that China is already threatening to use force in dealing with the West Philippine Sea issue, a maritime security expert said on Tuesday.
Prof. Jay Batongbacal made the observation after a PLA-Navy ship approached the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Sindangan within a distance of only 0.5 nautical miles for the first time during the government’s latest resupply mission in the BRP Sierra Madre.
“I think that is already an indication that China is threatening to use force against the Philippines, probably preparing as well,” Batongbacal said of the PLA-Navy warship’s move in an online interview.
The commissioned Philippine Navy ship situated in Ayungin Shoal has hosted a small contingent of military personnel since 1999 to assert Manila’s claim on the low-tide elevation about 194 kilometers (105 nautical miles) off Palawan province that is well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
However, the resupply missions in this World War II-era ship were hounded by Chinese vessels through their use of military-grade lasers last February and water cannons in August.
Batongbacal noted that China’s recent actions have become more “aggressive.”
“Aggressive in the sense that they are really trying to provoke the Philippines to act so that they will have an excuse to take more drastic — possibly violent — actions,” he noted.
He then said that the government should stand its ground based on international law and must not be provoked “into making the first move” that would allow China to escalate the matter.
“The government must not allow itself to be provoked into making the first move to give China any excuse for an overwhelming and disproportionate response,” he said.
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“The government should also continue to stand its ground based on international law and insist on China’s compliance with the law and the peaceful modes of dispute settlement instead of using these forms of coercion and threats of the use of force,” he added.
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China’s actions are based on its assertion that it owns almost most of the South China Sea, including the WPS, though its ten-dash line.
In 2013, the then nine-dash line was challenged by the Philippines before the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
The 2016 Arbitral Award effectively dismissed the sweeping demarcation.