After fresh tensions between the two nations flared up this week, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) expressed on Tuesday that it hoped Chinese officials would talk about a potential new deal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The Coast Guard issued the statement concurrently with the National Maritime Council, which sets policy, declaring that the Philippines is still dedicated to peacefully resolving disputes in the West Philippine Sea, which is the portion of the South China Sea that lies within the country’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.
BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño, two PCG warships, suffered significant damage on Monday in pre-dawn collisions with Chinese vessels that engaged in “unlawful and aggressive manoeuvres” close to Escoda shoal, according to Manila.
Security partners of Manila, notably the US, have expressed concerns or denounced China’s “dangerous and escalatory measures” to assert its claim to Philippine waters, according to the US Department of State.
China was also urged “to abide by international law and desist from its dangerous and destabilising conduct” by the US State Department in a statement released on Tuesday.
Despite the incidents surrounding Ayungin Shoal, parties were able to agree, according to Tarriela, who cited a recent deal the two countries reached over resupply missions for Filipino troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in a different part of the waterway.
The vessels damaged in Monday’s tensions, according to Tarriela, continued to serve their purpose and are currently at Pag-asa Island, which is a part of the province of Palawan.
