AFP chief: 50,000 challenges issued vs foreign ships in PH’s EEZ

AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. —photo from AFP FB page
MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday said that around 50,000 challenges have so far been issued against foreign vessels within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in 2024 alone.
Brawner made the pronouncement after noting that the AFP continues to monitor on its radar systems the country’s surrounding coasts and territorial waters against foreign vessels.
“In this year alone, we already have made 50,000 challenges to ships that pass through international waters covered by our exclusive economic zone and even within our internal water,” said Brawner in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon pre-Sona special.
READ: WPS: China’s aircraft carrier presence off Luzon deemed ‘innocent passage’
“Majority of them answer our challenges, but some do not,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementSome of these vessels, according to Brawner, were Chinese warships that steered close to the country’s coastal waters.
Article continues after this advertisementHowever, he also noted that some parts of these waters are international maritime highways.
READ: AFP confirms, hits China’s ‘intrusive patrols’ in West Philippine Sea
“Some parts are really passageway for ships, not just maritime and commercial ships, but also warships,” he clarified.
Brawner said the AFP respects and maintains the freedom of navigation and overflight, noting that around 60 percent of the world trade passes through the South China Sea.
Both the Philippines and China have been embroiled in a territorial dispute after the latter claimed the majority of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, through its so-called ten-dash line.
However, China’s claims have been effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013.
Despite this, China has continued encroaching on Philippine waters, continuing its aggression and militarization even in areas of the Philippines’ territory in the West Philippine Sea.
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