Chinese militia vessels seen in the West Philippine Sea – DND

According to a statement released by the Department of National Defense (DND) on Thursday, Chinese militia vessels have been spotted in the contentious area of the West Philippine Sea.

During a press conference, Faustino stated that they would work in conjunction with the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) to resolve incursions into the territorial waters of the country.

In a news briefing, DND Officer-in-Charge Jose Faustino, Jr. stated the following “They have been there for quite some time; I don’t have the exact number right now… Right now, we have sightings of some particularly Chinese militia vessels and some of the Chinese Coast Guards in the contested areas.”

He continued by saying, “We coordinate with the National Task Force in the West Philippine Sea on how to address these incursions.”

In 2016, a judgment by an international arbitral tribunal located in The Hague upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the waters of the South China Sea that were the subject of a territorial dispute; nevertheless, the Chinese government has refused to accept the ruling on multiple occasions.

He continued by saying, “We coordinate with the National Task Force in the West Philippine Sea on how to address these incursions.”

In 2016, a judgment by an international arbitral tribunal located in The Hague upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the waters of the South China Sea that were the subject of a territorial dispute; nevertheless, the Chinese government has refused to accept the ruling on multiple occasions.

“Our sovereignty is inviolable and we have to protect our territorial integrity so that’s it, from those lines of the President, we will toe the line kung ano yung kanyang mga statement regarding the West Philippine Sea.”

English Translation: “We will toe the line on whatever will be his statement regarding the West Philippine Sea.”

Marcos had previously stated that he will talk to China regarding the territorial dispute between the two nations that is taking place in the West Philippine Sea “consistently with a firm voice.”

However, Marcos stated that going to war against China was not a possibility, which is consistent with the position that Rodrigo Duterte held before Marcos took office.