Malacanang OK with seeking US help to monitor Chinese ships in Philippine EEZ

In the wake of the Chinese survey vessels found inside the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zones ( EEZ), Malacanang said it is not shelving the idea of seeking help to the Americans to monitor the countries boundaries.

This was the knee jerk reaction of the Philippine government after it was reported two Chinese warship passed through Philippine waters in Sibuti Straight without clearance to Philippine authorities.

Presidential spokesperson Atty Salvador Panelo notes that there is an existing mutual defense treaty between the Philippines and the US.

(photo credit to owner)

"There's nothing wrong with that. I think we are doing something so we can have our own satellite resources. While we do not have one, that's part of a treaty. There is a treaty between America and the Philippines," Panelo said.

Said treaty entered between the two countries in 1951 allows to jointly develop their security capabilities to counter external armed attacks.  

It was Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier who suggested in asking for assistance with the United States of America as he was expressing his concern over the existence and assage of the Chinese warships in Pilippine waters just over the Sibutu Strait in Tawi-Tawi without informing Philippine authorities.

“In the WPS (West Philippine Sea), if it is far; our radar cannot see them but other agencies like US, another country who has satellite, they can monitor that,” Lorenzana said 

As per Defense chief Lorenzana, there were at least four instances when Chinese ships passed through Philippines’ southern tip, and that they turned off their automatic identification systems to avoid being detected by the Philippine authorities.

Lorenzana made it clear that Chinese commercial vessels need not seek permission from Philippine authorities because of the innocent passage principle. But China has to notify the Philippines if its warships intend to pass through Philippine waters, he added. 

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Report from PhilStar