HOUSE prosecution panel adviser and spokesman Ace Barbers on Monday renewed his call for a stronger Philippine Navy or Coast Guard presence in Surigao del Norte following the reported transit of a Chinese aircraft carrier strike group through the Basilan Strait.
Barbers said the reported movement of the carrier Liaoning, accompanied by escort warships Wuxi, Anshan and Huainan, underscored the need to strengthen maritime surveillance and response capabilities, including consideration of an appropriate site under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
He said Philippine authorities reportedly issued radio challenges to the Chinese vessels and deployed Navy and Coast Guard vessels to monitor their movement, but the Chinese ships allegedly switched off their Automatic Identification System (AIS).
“This is not just a matter of Chinese warships passing through our waters. It is a matter of respect for the Philippines, our maritime authorities, and our sovereign rights,” Barbers said.
He argued that foreign warships cannot invoke innocent passage as blanket justification for military exercises, intelligence-gathering activities prejudicial to Philippine security or threatening maneuvers in the country’s territorial sea.
Whether the reported transit violated international law, however, would depend on the vessels’ location and conduct, Barbers said.
He urged the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, Department of National Defense and Department of Foreign Affairs to coordinate more closely, preserve radar and radio records, document foreign vessel movements and pursue appropriate diplomatic action based on verified facts.
“We need stronger monitoring capabilities, faster response times, and a more visible Philippine presence in our strategic waters,” he said.
