Diplomacy key to maritime security in West Philippine Sea, asserts PCG official

July 12, 2024 , 09:31 PM

By Rodolfo Dacleson II

(July 12, 2024) – An official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday reiterated the importance of diplomacy in maritime security as the country commemorated the eighth anniversary of the landmark ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016.

PCG commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said the Philippines must continue collaborating with its Southeast Asian neighbors and other countries amid the rising tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea.

“We should project power wherever it is necessary as a matter of duty and as a matter of legal right. While on the other hand, we should continue to invest in diplomacy,” said Gavan in a speech at an event of research group Stratbase ADR Institute.

He furthered that the PCG advocated for several platforms to bring together various coast guards in the region, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Coast Guard Forum, Southeast Asian Maritime Reinforcement Initiative, and the Humanitarian Dialogue Initiative.

“The (Philippine) Coast Guard did not intend to be a rider in this game. We want to be a driver,” added Gavan. “With all opportunities at hand as the non-military component of this game, we pursued the development of several platforms in the region.”

In 2016, the PCA dismissed the so-called nine-dash line of China, siding with the Philippines’ rights to sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

China, however, has not only ignored the historic decision but continued its aggression.

But Gavan explained that the arbitral ruling still helped the country bolster its diplomacy effort by pursuing policies based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and national law.

“Maritime security does not belong to us alone, the uniformed services, because at the end of the day, we will only be just a function of you (Filipinos),” said Gavan.

Since pivoting his foreign policy to a “friend to all” approach, Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. reminded the PCG to never be provoked by China’s bullying tactics. He also reiterated that the country has no business “instigating a war.”

“We have been saying that we are on the right side of this equation, and I say so,” said Gavan.

(PM)

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