The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Japan Coast Guard (JCG), and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) conduct trilateral maritime exercises for the first time off the coast of Mariveles, Bataan on June 6, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has promised to send assets to the South China Sea to support Manila in upholding sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday.

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In a statement, the PCG said the USCG will deploy its North Pacific Coast Guard following the proposal of Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan for a “greater deployment” in high seas “to address the forthcoming threat” as China is set to implement a new regulation of detaining supposed trespasses in what it considers its maritime boundaries.

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 The proposal was made not only to the USCG, but also to the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) during the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

 “I’d like to propose greater deployment in the high seas. We will do our part, but we also need you to be there to maintain rules-based order the way Coast Guards should play their role,” Gavan said.

 “We know our limits, but we know we can do something to give time for our political leaders to do their part to keep the West Philippine Sea as free as it should be,” he added.

 On her part, USCG Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan confirmed her meeting with Gavan, as well as with JCG Vice Admiral Seguchi Yoshio, in Singapore.

 She noted the “increasingly central geopolitical role” the maritime law enforcement agencies play in the Asia-Pacific region.

 “They must demonstrate professional behavior at sea in order to support good maritime governance, which is critical to global economic prosperity and security Malign activities such as human and drug trafficking, cyber-attacks, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing drive instability and threaten the rules-based international order,” Fagan said in a separate statement.

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 Meanwhile, the JCG, according to the PCG, proposed the conduct of more personnel exchanges to create a robust network of coast guard counterparts in pursuit of maritime law enforcement and rule of law.

 The PCG said it has agreed with the USCG and JCG to pursue capacity-building initiatives to strengthen people-to-people relationship, better synchronize doctrines on the ground, and develop trust with each other.

 “Rest assured that the PCG is doing its share in the alliance we nurture. We are grateful for the new opportunities to further strengthen our ranks and fulfill our roles in the most unique way to address current challenges,” Gavan said.

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On Wednesday, the Philippine Navy reported an increase in the number of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

In total, 125 vessels were monitored in Philippine-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea from May 28 to June 3. These include 9 China Coast Guard vessels, 11 PLAN vessels, and 105 Chinese maritime militia vessels.

COAST GUARD FORUM 

The Philippines on Wednesday hosted a forum for coast guards in the region.

Gavan said the Philippines was not keen on raising China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Coast Guard Forum as attendees are not violating laws in international waters. 

He added that PCG officials are “mature” and would not “stoop to the level” of others who break maritime law. 

“Kami po sa PCG ay mananatiling kalmado, propesyunal at determinado. Atin pong iniingatan ang ating napakalaking advantage bilang Pilipino,” he said.

“Tayo po ay mga mature na tao, tayo po ay hindi mga barbarians tayo po ay sumusunod sa batas. Hindi po tayo baba sa lebel ng sinoman, kung mayroon man na hindi sumusunod sa batas,” he added.

The ASEAN Coast Guard Forum will instead focus on having a united understanding of maritime laws and policies, Gavan said.

“Ang kapayapan po ay makakamit kung ang lahat ay sumusunod sa batas at ang pagpapatupad ng batas ay magiging maayos kung pare-pareho ang pagkakaintindi sa batas at nagkasundo kung paano ito ipapatupad,” he said.

“Mas maraming capacity building activities, magko-cross training tayo… Napag-usapan din namin yung posibilidad na sila ay sasakay sa barko natin,” he said.

In 2023, Marcos urged ASEAN members to oppose the “dangerous use of coast guard, militia vessels” in the South China Sea. 

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