ITO ang dahilan kung bakit nag-deploy ang Philippine Coast Guard ng patrol vessel at eroplano para paalisin ang JIA HAI KE 7, na hinihinalang nagsasagawa ng hindi awtorisadong marine scientific research sa exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng bansa.
Ayon kay PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, “Itong Chinese research vessel na ito, kaya ito concerning is because it has the capability to locate some sea cables.”
“Ibig sabihin, underneath sa karagatan. itong critical infrastructure natin, ‘yung sub-sea cables which is our national interest concerning telecommunications, banking, and connectivity,” ani Tarriela.
“China has been always identified as the vessel na nag-conduct nito. The Chinese government will not admit it but China is always the notorious country who has always been mentioned whenever there are accidental or intentional cutting off subsea cables,” sabi pa ng tagapagsalita.
Paliwanag pa ng PCG official, ang foreign vessels ay maaari lamang dumaan sa Philippine EEZ dahil sa umiiral na freedom of navigation, at hindi maaaring magsagawa ng pag-aaral o pananaliksik. “We suspect she also dropped some instrument to carry out an illegal MSR,” dagdag pa ni Tarriela.
Kaugnay nito, nilinaw rin ng PCG na hindi sila nakipag-ugnayan sa Taiwan Coast Guard para itaboy ang Chinese research vessel na nagsasagawa ng hindi awtorisadong marine scientific research sa karagatang malapit sa Itbayat, Batanes.
Sa news forum, sinabi ni Tarriela na tatlong barko ng Taiwan Coast Guard ang naghihintay para itaboy ang research ship ng China sa oras na umalis ito sa exclusive economic zone ng Pilipinas.
“It is surprising that even the Taiwan Coast Guard is also seriously looking into the illegal MSR (marine scientific research) which could be conducted by this Chinese research vessel,” ani Tarriela.
Una rito, nag-deploy ang PCG ng patrol vessel at eroplano para paalisin ang JIA HAI KE 7, na nagsasagawa ng hindi awtorisadong marine scientific research sa exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng bansa.
“We don’t have any coordination whatsoever. I would like to believe that the Taiwan Coast Guard is just merely relying on the AIS (automatic identification system) data of the Philippines Coast Guard vessel that is why they have the idea that a Chinese research vessel together with China Coast Guard 2503 and the other coast guard vessel… would also be crossing the border of the exclusive economic zone of our country,” ayon kay Tarriela.
Iginiit din niya na kinumpirma ng Department of Foreign Affairs na walang consent na ibinigay para sa JIA HAI KE 7.
(JESSE RUIZ)
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