‘Atin Ito ship to turn back if China aggression escalates’

MISSION CONTINUES  – Atin Ito’s third civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea, featuring a concert at sea off Palawan, will serve as a platform for artists, musicians and fisherfolk from different countries to come together and promote peace, cultural exchange and regional solidarity through music and the arts. (SCREENGRAB FROM ATIN ITO VIDEO)

ABOARD T/S FELIX OCA, West Philippine Sea — The civilian ship carrying Atin Ito volunteers en route to Pag-asa Island will have no choice but to return to El Nido, Palawan, should a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel maneuver dangerously close to it, according to training ship (T/S) Felix Oca Captain Jorge Dela Cruz. 

Although the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has the authority to make the call, Dela Cruz said he also has the discretion to go back if China’s aggression escalates. 

“If they show signs that they will maneuver dangerously close to us. The PCG will likely decide, but if that happens, we have to go back,” he told reporters in in Filipino in interview on Tuesday. 

Earlier, Dela Cruz reported seeing two Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels near the T/S Felix Oca, which was about 40 nautical miles from El Nido at around 7:40 a.m.

Less than an hour later, at 8:32 a.m., one of the CCG vessels issued a radio challenge to the civilian ship and escorting Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels.

“According to China’s domestic law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China has undisputed sovereignty over islands in South China and the adjacent. The so-called South China Sea arbitration is illegal. China neither accepts nor recognizes this,” CCG said.

Minutes later, the PCG responded to this, asserting its rights within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. 

“In accordance with Republic Act 12064, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which you are a signatory state, and the 2016 arbitral award, you do not possess any legal authority to patrol within the Philippine exclusive economic zone. You are directed to depart immediately and notify us of your attention,” the PCG said, as heard on the radio of T/S Felix Oca. 

The civilian ship is expected to arrive in the vicinity of Pag-asa Island on Wednesday morning (May 28).

Since January, Philippine authorities have been monitoring the movements of CCG vessels “unlawfully operating” within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Beijing’s continued aggression was based on its assertion of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, as it continues to reject the 2016 arbitral ruling that effectively dismissed its claims and ruled in favor of Manila.

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