China continues to deny PH access in WPS

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III during a joint press conference at the Western Command headquarters in Puerto Princesa, Palawan Tuesday (Nov. 19, 2024). China has been consistently denying the country the right to access its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, Teodoro said. (Photo courtesy of DND)

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY | LLPublished November 19, 2024

MANILA – China has been consistently denying the country the right to access its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Tuesday.

“It’s the same story over and over again. They have been more aggressive denying us access to our EEZ in the WPS,” Teodoro said during a joint press conference at the Western Command headquarters in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Teodoro was with visiting United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III.

He added that China has been usinh “pseudo military vessels” disguised as Coast Guard vessels and maritime militia ships in various areas of the WPS.

China also conducts aggressive “information operations” against the Philippines.

Teodoro said this was further highlighted by Chinese reaction to the newly signed General Security of Military Information Agreement between the Philippines and the US.

“If you weren’t paranoid, you wouldn’t comment about it, so far as I’m concerned, because it is something bilateral between the United States and the Philippines. So all of these actions to me prove the existence of some motive which is brought about by a close political system, excuse me, a political system where the external controls the internal political environment,” he added.

Austin agreed with Teodoro’s observations, describing China’s behavior as “concerning.”

“You’ve heard me say that a number of times. They’ve used dangerous and escalatory measures to enforce their expansive South China Sea maritime claims,” Austin said.