NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — On Wednesday, a congressman emphasized the importance of bolstering Philippine maritime security by implementing a national program to upgrade the Philippine Navy and reinforce the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay made the declaration in response to China’s recent claim that Panatag Shoal is part of its “inherent domain.”

“Panatag is ours without a doubt. However, everyone who has worked in real estate knows that security and possession are almost as important as legal ownership. As a result, we must invest in our naval, aviation, and coastal defensive capabilities, according to Salceda.

While the government must seek a diplomatic approach, he believes it will be difficult if the conditions of the agreement cannot be enforced by a credible defense.

“The Philippines is a coastal nation. Our domestic insurgency has compelled us to concentrate much of our efforts on land-based security, despite the fact that the vast majority of our area is navigable water. While a result, as we address the socioeconomic origins of internal conflict, we must begin the transition from land-based to maritime security,” he stated.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, justified the Chinese Coast Guard’s action on Monday by claiming that the disputed shoal is “China’s natural territory.”

“We hope that the Philippine ships will sincerely respect China’s sovereignty, rights, and interests, abide by Chinese domestic and international law, and avoid interfering with the China Coast Guard’s patrol and law enforcement in the above-mentioned waters,” Wang said, referring to the Chinese moniker for Bajo de Masinloc.

A credible defensive posture, according to Salceda, is “the strongest and most important diplomatic leverage a country can achieve.”

He stated, “It sends a clear message to possible adversaries: Let’s keep the peace because conflict will be as devastating for you as it will be for us.”

In order to ensure security in the West Philippine Sea, he advocated a three-pillar method (WPS).

He stated that the Philippines can pursue mutual security guarantees with other countries that have legitimate claims to the region, such as settling claims among themselves, jointly defending the total area claimed by the parties, and welcoming security guarantees from other external guarantors over the area.

“The advantage is that if you trespass on this community of mutual support, all underdogs on their own but a formidable force when together, you inevitably appear to the public as the bad guy.” “Of course, losing the moral high ground has very costly economic and political ramifications for the perceived aggressor,” he said, citing the Russia-Ukraine conflict as an example.

For its part, Malacanang asserted that the Philippines has “complete sovereignty” over the WPS’ Bajo de Masinloc.

“We continue to exercise full sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc and its territorial sea, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the adjacent EEZ (exclusive economic zone) and continental shelf,” stated Martin Andanar, acting presidential spokesperson.

On March 2, 2022, a CCG ship made a “near distance maneuvering” against one of the PCG’s ships, BRP Malabrigo, in Bajo de Masinloc, according to the PCG.

The incident is “clearly in violation of the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS),” according to the PCG.

The incident was the fourth recorded close distance maneuvering incident between CCG vessels near Bajo de Masinloc, according to PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu. (

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