Coast Guard, BFAR boats sent to protect fishermen

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) deployed multiple vessels to Bajo de Masinloc following reports of continued harassment by Chinese vessels of Filipino fishermen, authorities said. In a statement Tuesday, the PCG said two of its vessels and five BFAR fishery patrol ships were dispatched after more than 20 Filipino fishing boats were harassed by China Coast Guard (CCG) units over the weekend. The joint deployment secured the fishing grounds and ensured the safety of Filipino fishermen operating in the area. Government personnel also distributed fuel subsidies, food packs, and ice to help sustain fishing operations and mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered an aerial maritime domain awareness flight over the shoal to monitor the situation. The operation documented the presence of six CCG vessels, 20 Chinese Maritime Militia ships, and one warship from the People’s Liberation Army Navy. During the patrol, the PCG recorded what it described as a first-of-its-kind incident: a CCG vessel broadcasting over radio its intent to conduct a “clearing operation” within a defined area. The coordinates covered waters between 14°14’N to 15°05’N latitude and 118°10’E to 118°25’E longitude. The PCG said the deployment formed part of efforts to safeguard Philippine sovereignty and protect the livelihood of local fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. The agency also reiterated its commitment to enforcing international law and supporting the policy direction of the Philippine government in asserting the country’s sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction in contested waters. Military exercises Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Japan is expected to send combat troops to military exercises in the Philippines instead of the usual humanitarian assistance and disaster response trainers. Brawner linked the expected deployment to rising maritime tensions in the West Philippine Sea and the deepening defense ties between Manila and Tokyo. “As mentioned by the ambassador, for this year’s Balikatan exercise, we are expecting Japan to send combat troops to join in the exercise instead of just the usual trainers of HADR, Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster,” Brawner said. He said the Philippines-Japan relationship now goes beyond politics and touches on regional and global stability, as well as both countries’ shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and a free and open Indo-Pacific. Brawner said the two countries’ ties have evolved through periods of challenge and renewal and have, over the past two decades, and reached a decisive turning point as a forward-looking defense relationship. He said the transformation reflects not only stronger bilateral ties but also a shared understanding of an increasingly complex security environment. Brawner said the Philippines and Japan are being drawn closer by converging strategic interests in maritime security, regional stability, and the defense of a rules-based international order. He said those shared commitments are being tested by China’s actions in contested waters. “In the face of the People’s Republic of China’s increasing assertiveness in the West Philippine Sea and the broader South China Sea as well as the East China Sea, the Philippines remains firmly anchored in international law, diplomacy and transparency,” he said. He said the Philippines continues to uphold the 2016 arbitral award under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea while asserting its maritime rights through peaceful and lawful means. “This approach reflects a deliberate strategy, principled restraint coupled with resolve,” Brawner said. He added that the Philippines has also committed itself to transparency and strategic communication so that developments at sea are clearly presented, facts are established, and the international community remains informed. “In doing so, we defend our rights while contributing to accountability and stability,” he said. Brawner said Japan has consistently upheld the same principles, including respect for international law, freedom of navigation, and adherence to established norms. “As a like-minded partner, Japan reinforces a shared vision of a maritime domain governed by law, not by coercion,” he said. He said both countries affirm that regional stability depends on open sea lanes, peaceful dispute management, and respect for the rights of all states. Brawner said defense cooperation between the Philippines and Japan has expanded through capacity-building efforts, maritime security assistance, and more advanced joint and trilateral exercises. He said the growing cooperation has included radar systems provided by Japan under its security assistance programs, as well as broader efforts to improve interoperability between the two militaries. Brawner also cited the Reciprocal Access Agreement as a landmark arrangement showing both countries’ commitment to a more responsive and coordinated security posture. Beyond conventional military cooperation, Brawner said the partnership is also responding to emerging threats, including what he described as illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions that undermine sovereignty without escalating into open conflict. He said sustained coordination, information sharing, and strategic communication are essential in exposing malign influence and reinforcing the rules-based order. In a separate interview, Brawner said there are efforts to damage the Philippines’ relationship with Japan as the two countries deepen defense cooperation. “Yes, we are seeing these efforts to destroy the relationship,” he said. He said it is important that the Philippines and Japan do not allow such efforts to disrupt ties that have now lasted for 70 years as independent democracies. “Eighty-one years ago in 1945, we found ourselves on opposite sides of the war,” Brawner said. “This time, we find ourselves on the same side, on the same side of that effort to promote a rules-based international order,” he added. Brawner said some countries are pushing their own interests in the region through coercion, which makes coalitions with like-minded partners such as Japan all the more important. He also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is paying closer attention to cyber defense as global conflicts have shown how attacks on networks can come even before actual strikes.

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