Jay Tarriela
@jaytaryela • 46,745 subscribers
Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson on West Philippine Sea Concerns
Shorts
Videos
Let us call this what it is! A foreign ambassador, on Philippine soil, before Filipino journalists, telling Filipinos that his country "may easily win" if it chooses to use force against us. That is not reassurance. That is a direct threat, and wrapping it in "we love peace" does not change what it is. Ambassador Jing Quan is a guest in this country. We received him, accredited him, and extended to him every courtesy owed to a diplomat. A guest who reminds his host that he could easily beat him up, but has graciously decided not to, is not describing friendship. He is threatening the very country that received him and asking us to be grateful for it. He says we should "feel fortunate" to have a neighbor like China. Our fishermen driven away from Bajo de Masinloc do not feel fortunate. Our Coast Guard personnel water-cannoned, rammed, and lasered in our own exclusive economic zone do not feel fortunate. No people feel fortunate when a larger neighbor repeatedly violates the law and then tells them to be thankful it was not worse. The threat or use of force is prohibited under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. China's claims in the West Philippine Sea were ruled without legal basis by the 2016 Arbitral Award. The Philippines does not measure its rights by the size of its neighbor's military. We measure them by international law. Not using force against a country whose rights you are already violating is not peace. It is coercion by other means!
Jay Tarriela211,270 views • 15 days ago
This is how barbaric the Chinese Coast Guard is in the recent RoRe mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. These videos show how blatantly they use physical attacks and violence to prevent our soldiers from completing the legitimate and humanitarian resupply mission to our troops on board BRP Sierra Madre. These provocative, unprofessional, and inhumane actions of China, if left unchecked, will not just be a loss for our fight in the West Philippine Sea. They serve as a clear indication that humanity has once again allowed barbarism to trample upon compassion, and that what is right is only defined by might. 📹 Armed Forces of the Philippines
Jay Tarriela3,498,750 views • 2 years ago
PCG CHALLENGES THE ILLEGAL PRESENCE OF CCG-4305 WITHIN THE PHILIPPINES’ EEZ OFF THE COAST OF ZAMBALES The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), utilizing Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) Program, has tracked the unauthorized presence of China Coast Guard vessel CCG-4305 drifting within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 48 nautical miles west of the coastline of Pandaquit, Zambales. Upon confirmation of its illegal presence, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan immediately ordered the deployment of both aerial and surface assets to challenge and drive away the Chinese vessel from Philippine maritime jurisdiction. This morning, the PCG Piper Navajo 302 took off from La Union Airport to conduct a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight over the area where the CCG vessel was detected. At approximately 8:40 AM, the PCG aircraft visually confirmed CCG-4305 lying-to within the Philippine EEZ, at a distance of 50.1 nautical miles west of Pandaquit, Zambales. The PCG aircrew issued numerous radio challenges, which the Chinese vessel refused to acknowledge. The PCG Piper Navajo 302 also conducted multiple passes to document the unlawful incursion before returning to the airport. At sea, BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) proceeded to the confirmed location of the CCG vessel and conducted firm radio challenges to CCG-4305 throughout the day. Although the Chinese vessel briefly acknowledged the initial challenge in the morning, it subsequently went silent and refused to respond to subsequent challenges. Notably, CCG-4305 provided no lawful basis for its presence within the Philippines’ EEZ. In compliance with the President’s directive, the PCG will never allow the normalization of illegal patrols by the China Coast Guard off the coast of Zambales. These activities constitute a direct violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan expressed his firm commitment: “The PCG remains resolute in defending the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction through sustained MDA flights, vessel deployments, and lawful enforcement operations across the West Philippine Sea.”
Jay Tarriela539,476 views • 5 months ago
PCG Challenges China Coast Guard Vessel Loitering Off the Coast of Luzon The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed BRP MALABRIGO (MRRV-4402) since 20 June 2026 to challenge and drive away the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5304 operating within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). As of today, BRP MALABRIGO has radio-challenged CCG-5304 numerous times but CCG vessel did not respond to any of these challenges. During a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight this morning, the PCG Britten-Norman Islander aircraft (PCG-251) flew over the location of CCG-5304, observed approximately 45.5 nautical miles west of Iba, Zambales. CCG-5304 has been loitering in the maritime area between 27.0 and 45.0 nautical miles west of Luzon since 16 June 2026. Its northernmost track approached as close as 27.29 nautical miles off Burgos, Ilocos Sur, while its southernmost track reached approximately 30.0 nautical miles off Capones Island. As of this evening, the vessel was observed 43.0 nautical miles west of Cabangan, Zambales. It is worth noting that the movement pattern indicates that CCG-5304 is likely patrolling along the limits of China’s unlawfully claimed sea areas in the West Philippine Sea, as demarcated by its illegal nine- or ten-dash line — claims that were invalidated by the 2016 Arbitral Award. The PCG remains steadfast in upholding the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction within its maritime zones. We will continue to maintain our presence and conduct lawful patrols to ensure the safety of our maritime domain and protect the rights of our Filipino fisherfolk. The PCG, under the leadership of Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, remains committed to transparency in exposing the illegal and aggressive activities of China in the West Philippine Sea.
Jay Tarriela281,933 views • 4 months ago
Are we hyping the presence of the Chinese floating platform in Bajo de Masinloc? Of course not. We have more than enough basis to say so, because the Chinese government has always been good at lying—especially when it comes to denying its true intentions in the West Philippine Sea. Here is a video of Wang Yi in Manila in 1995, where he claimed that the shelter China built on Panganiban (Mischief) Reef—well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone—was for civilian purposes only, and would remain so even in the future. But look at that same reef today: a massive illegal reclamation that is now one of China’s largest military bases in the entire South China Sea. Their claim that they care about the marine environment is just as hollow. They showed no such concern when they bulldozed and buried the reefs and seabed to build their illegal bases across the South China Sea.
Jay Tarriela259,030 views • 4 months ago
STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE FOR THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA 9 December 2023 Manila, Philippines The National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTFWPS) vehemently condemns the illegal and aggressive actions carried out by the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia against the civilian Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels Datu Sanday, Datu Bankaw, and Datu Tamblot today during a regular BFAR humanitarian and support mission of providing oil subsidy and grocery packs to over 30 Filipino fishing vessels near Bajo De Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea. As of this reporting the mission is on-going. Based on the reports received, as the BFAR vessels approached 1.4 to 1.9 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, the Chinese Coast Guard ships utilized water cannons to obstruct and prevent BFAR vessels from approaching the Filipino fishing vessels eagerly awaiting the oil subsidy and grocery packs. The water cannons had been used at least eight (8) times at the time of reporting. Additionally, the Chinese Maritime Militia vessels are reported to have engaged in dangerous maneuvers and deployed what is understood to be a Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) against the BFAR vessels - causing severe temporary discomfort and incapacitation to some Filipino crew. Water cannon action have resulted in significant damage to BFAR vessel Datu Tamblot's communication and navigation equipment, as it was directly and deliberately targeted by the China Coast Guard. The Task Force likewise denounces the deployment of Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) to disperse and drive away Filipino fishing vessels eagerly awaiting the distribution of fuel subsidies and food supplies from the BFAR ships. To prevent the distribution of humanitarian support is not only illegal but also inhumane. Moreover, Filipino fishermen have reported and documented the Chinese Coast Guard launching a small boat early this morning to illegally install a floating barrier at the southeast entrance of Bajo De Masinloc. The actions of Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia hindered the BFAR vessel from accessing the entrance of the shoal. We stress that Bajo de Masinloc is a high-tide feature with territorial sea, per the 2016 Arbitral Award. It forms an integral part of the Philippine national territory under the Constitution. The Philippines exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction over the shoal and its territorial sea. The 2016 Arbitral Award has also clarified that Filipinos have traditional fishing rights in the water of Bajo de Masinloc protected by international law. China's illegal exercise of maritime law enforcement powers, interference with Philippine vessels, harassment and intimidation of Filipino fisherfolk, or any other activity that infringes upon the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction in Bajo de Masinloc are violations of international law, particularly UNCLOS and the Arbitral Award. We firmly insist that these Chinese vessels leave Bajo de Masinloc immediately. We demand that the Chinese government take immediate action to halt these aggressive activities and uphold the principles of international law and desist from actions that would infringe on Philippine Sovereignty and endanger the lives and livelihood of Filipino fishermen who have traditionally fished in the area. The NTF-WPS remains committed to protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.
Jay Tarriela1,299,455 views • 2 years ago
This shows the massive scale of the illegal reclamation by the Chinese government on Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef), located well within our Exclusive Economic Zone. Whenever our aircraft pass through the area during Maritime Domain Awareness flights, China has the audacity to challenge us claiming that they have “indisputable sovereignty” in this area—and in some instances, like the one shown here, they have even launched flares toward our aircraft. It is worth noting that China first illegally occupied Panganiban Reef, initially claiming they were only building a shelter for fishermen. Today, it stands as one of the largest Chinese military installations in the entire South China Sea. We should not forget that the reef lies only about 120 nautical miles from the coastline of Palawan, yet more than 600 nautical miles away from China.
Jay Tarriela272,154 views • 7 months ago
If there is any party here that provokes and escalates tension, it is only the unruly and barbaric China Coast Guard personnel who clearly do not understand UNCLOS. Why else would they be this close to BRP Sierra Madre — a Philippine ship, sitting well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, and over 600 nautical miles from Hainan? The provocateur is not the one staying home in his own waters. It is the one who sailed hundreds of miles to swing a baton at him! We have always been the victim and you remained to be the bully!
Jay Tarriela117,854 views • 3 months ago
PCG AND BFAR DEPLOY VESSELS TO PROTECT FILIPINO FISHERMEN FROM CHINESE HARASSMENT IN BAJO DE MASINLOC In response to continued harassment by Chinese Coast Guard vessels against more than 20 Filipino fishing boats last weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) immediately deployed two PCG vessels and five fishery patrol vessels to Bajo de Masinloc. The joint PCG-BFAR deployment ensured the safety and security of the Filipino fishermen while delivering vital support, including fuel subsidies, food packs, and ice to extend their fishing operations and help offset rising fuel costs. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan also directed the deployment of the PCG Caravan for a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight over the area. The flight documented six China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, 20 China Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels, and one People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) warship in the vicinity. This operation marks a significant first: the PCG has documented the China Coast Guard vessel announcing via live radio broadcast its intention to conduct a clearing operation at the following coordinates: - Point A: 15°05'N, 118°10'E - Point B: 15°05'N, 118°25'E - Point C: 14°14'N, 118°25'E - Point D: 14°14'N, 118°10'E The Philippine Coast Guard remains steadfast in its full support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to defend Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea. In line with the President’s vision, the PCG will continue to uphold international law and protect the rights, safety, and livelihoods of Filipino fishermen from external threats and harassment.
Jay Tarriela233,698 views • 7 months ago
PCG, PN, PNP-MG TEAM RESPONDS TO DESTRUCTIVE FISHING NEAR PAG-ASA ISLAND; CHINA COAST GUARD OBSTRUCTS LAWFUL OPERATION On 04 October 2026, an inter-agency maritime law enforcement team from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine Navy, including Marines, and the PNP Maritime Group responded to a report of suspected dynamite fishing near Sandy Cays 2 and 3, about three (3) nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island, within the territorial sea of the Philippines. The operation was led by the Coast Guard District Kalayaan Island Group (CGD KIG) under Commodore Gesulgon, under the guidance of PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan to carry out whole-of-government maritime law enforcement together with the other uniformed services on Pag-asa Island. Establishing CGD KIG has raised the PCG's presence in the Kalayaan Island Group to a new level. It allows faster response and better sustainment of operations, working closely with the Municipality of Kalayaan and other government agencies. At around 0720H, personnel of the Joint Task Unit Pag-asa saw a foreign fishing vessel apparently doing blast fishing in the area. CGD KIG quickly formed an inter-agency team. The team deployed PCG High-Speed Response Boat HSRB-019, a Philippine Navy RHIB and rubber boat, and a PNP Maritime Group RHIB. The team left the sheltered port of Pag-asa at 0950H. Within minutes, China Coast Guard vessels 5102 and 21581 moved toward its path. They sounded their horns and radio-challenged the Philippine team inside Philippine territorial waters. At around 1000H, the team reached the fishing vessel about 500 meters east-southeast of Sandy Cay 2. The small boats that were reportedly doing the blasting had already returned to the mother boat. The team ordered the vessel to stop and radioed it several times. The vessel ignored these orders and sailed southwest toward Zamora (Subi) Reef. While the team followed the vessel, CCG 21581 shadowed and blocked the Philippine boats. At one point it came within about ten (10) yards of HSRB-019. At 1013H, a People's Liberation Army Navy helicopter (tail number 09) circled over the team four times. At 1023H, about 1.2 nautical miles east-southeast of Sandy Cay 5, the team stopped following the vessel for safety reasons. All personnel returned safely to Pag-asa at 1048H. Dynamite fishing destroys coral reefs and the fish stocks that Filipino fishermen in the Kalayaan Island Group depend on. It is prohibited under the Philippine Fisheries Code. The PCG stresses that this was a routine law enforcement operation against an illegal and destructive practice. It was not directed at any country. The incident will be documented and referred through the Department of Foreign Affairs for appropriate action through existing channels. The China Coast Guard has no law enforcement authority in the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island. By obstructing Philippine authorities, the CCG did not protect the marine environment. It made it easier for a suspected violator to escape. The deployment of a PLA Navy helicopter over a civilian law enforcement operation in Philippine territorial waters is an unnecessary act of intimidation. Any claim that the CCG "handled" the situation or "expelled" Philippine vessels is false. The PCG, together with the Philippine Navy and the PNP Maritime Group, will continue to enforce Philippine laws and protect the marine resources around Pag-asa Island and the Kalayaan Island Group. This mission is in accordance with the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has called for firm national resolve in defending what is ours and for responsible stewardship of the country's marine resources.
Jay Tarriela30,070 views • 26 days ago
Mayor Baste Duterte's recent statements misrepresent the Philippines' balanced approach to China and the root causes of tensions in the West Philippine Sea. His two key claims—that using Chinese products implies support for economic cooperation over military confrontation, and that tensions in the WPS stem solely from U.S.-China great power competition—reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of our national interests. Mayor Duterte's suggestion that everyday Filipinos using Chinese-made goods (such as clothing or electronics) should somehow accept economic cooperation as a substitute for confronting China's aggression in the WPS is a false equivalence. Our bilateral engagement with the PRC is multifaceted: it includes robust economic partnerships in trade, investment, and infrastructure, which we actively pursue and have not abandoned. However, these ties do not—and must not—compromise our territorial integrity or the rights enshrined in the 2016 Arbitral Award and UNCLOS. Standing firm against China's illegal claims and aggressive actions in the WPS is not an "either-or" choice between commerce and confrontation. It is a non-negotiable assertion of Philippine agency as an independent sovereign nation. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration has demonstrated this balance: we continue to trade with China while enhancing our defensive posture. His attribution of WPS conflicts to "great power competition" between the U.S. and China oversimplifies the issue and absolves the aggressor. While superpower dynamics play a role in the broader Indo-Pacific, the immediate flashpoints in the WPS—such as the blocking of Philippine resupply missions in previous years or the harassment of Filipino fishing vessels—are direct results of China's excessive maritime claims and aggressive tactics. These actions have victimized ordinary Filipino fishermen, denying them access to traditional fishing grounds within our exclusive economic zone, long before any escalation in U.S. involvement. This is not a proxy war orchestrated by Washington; it is a violation of international law by Beijing. Filipino fisherfolk from Pangasinan, Mindoro, Palawan, and Zambales have faced water cannons, laser blinding lights, and vessel ramming—not because of American warships, but because of China's monstrous coast guard vessels and maritime militia enforcing fictitious sovereignty. Our response under President Marcos reflects national resolve, not external puppeteering; it includes diplomatic protests, multilateral advocacy, and bolstering our own capabilities through the AFP and PCG. Mayor Duterte’s narrative conveniently ignores the track record of his father's administration. Despite President Rodrigo Duterte's overt courtship of the PRC—including downplaying the arbitral victory and pivoting toward Beijing—Chinese bullying persisted unabated. Fishermen were still driven away, AFP rotations to BRP Sierra Madre were obstructed, and PCG vessels faced collisions and intimidation. Billions in promised Chinese investments to support his ambitious “Build, Build, Build” project did not materialize, while core WPS grievances remained unresolved. This history underscores that concessions do not yield peace; they invite further encroachments. If there is one thing that Mayor Duterte said correctly, it is that before opening our mouths, we should ensure that our statements are anchored in truth and facts, rather than mere insinuations that promote a pro-China narrative.
Jay Tarriela311,157 views • 1 year ago
Senator Robin Padilla's statement that confrontation with China yields no benefits for the Philippines and that continued contestation over the WPS is futile. Such position undermines the plight of Filipino fishermen who, just weeks ago, were injured and had their boats damaged by China Cost Guard water cannons near Escoda Shoal—incidents that highlight ongoing aggression despite diplomatic efforts. This statement is also a profound disservice to the PCG personnel who are courageously and selflessly patrolling the West Philippine Sea and who are constantly subjected to China’s bullying and dangerous actions. Our presence in these waters is not the cause of escalating tensions. We are there to prevent China from normalizing its illegal presence in the WPS while, at the same time, providing safety and security to our ordinary fishermen. As part of the senate, Sen. Padilla should recognize that the Philippines has never initiated or escalated tensions in the WPS. Instead, we have consistently been on the receiving end of China's barbaric, illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions, which violate the 2016 Arbitral Award and international law. While Sen. Padilla emphasizes for diplomatic dialogue, he perhaps forgot that the current administration under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has actively pursued diplomacy. President Marcos has repeatedly emphasized maintaining open communication channels with Beijing while asserting that the WPS issue does not define the entirety of Philippines-China relations. As a matter of fact, bilateral trade remains robust: China is the Philippines' top import partner and a major export destination, with trade volumes reaching billions annually despite WPS issue. On Sen. Padilla’s discussion of territorial sea and exclusive economic zones, the Philippine government broadly understands the distinction under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is only China that refuses to accept the invalidity of its "nine-dash line," as ruled by the 2016 Arbitral Award. Sen. Padilla's vision—that Filipino fishermen fish freely in the WPS, that Philippine Coast Guard vessels no longer subjected to water cannon by the China Coast Guard, and that resources like oil and gas at Recto Bank be extracted—can only materialize if China ceases its aggression. Suggesting that the Philippines should halt its defense of rights reveals a misunderstanding: we are not "fighting" in an offensive sense but steadfastly upholding sovereign rights against bullying. It is our fishermen who truly "fight" daily—not with arms, but by pursuing their livelihood in the WPS which is now endangered daily by China’s maritime forces. The good senator must remember: standing firm is not provocation; it is patriotism and it is our obligation for the next generation of Filipinos. By the way, Vietnam is not a founding member of ASEAN; it only joined in 1995.
Jay Tarriela241,091 views • 10 months ago
PCG DRIVES AWAY CHINESE MARITIME MILITIA VESSEL AND 24 SMALL BOATS ILLEGALLY FISHING IN THE TERRITORIAL SEA OF KOTA ISLAND The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) drove away Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel (CMMV) 9622 and twenty-four (24) small boats ("sampans") it deployed within the territorial sea of Kota Island, Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), on 28 September 2026. At around 10:00 AM, PCG personnel on Kota Island monitored CMMV 9622 lying-to about 1.2 nautical miles northwest of the island as it launched 24 sampans, each manned by two individuals. The small boats spread out at roughly 50-yard intervals and were later observed circling within 300 yards of the island, engaged in fishing. At 11:00 AM, a five-man PCG team assigned to Coast Guard Station Kota deployed on a rubber boat to challenge the vessels. CMMV 9622 ignored radio challenges, and its crews acknowledged instructions to leave only through hand signals. Upon the arrival of the PCG team, the mothership and all 24 sampans immediately withdrew from the area. All PCG personnel returned safely to station with no untoward incident. Launching two dozen small boats from a single militia platform is a force-multiplying tactic that extends the mothership's reach and reinforces Chinese presence under a civilian appearance, below the threshold of overt coercion. Kota Island is an integral part of the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan. Fishing by foreign vessels within its territorial sea, without Philippine authority, violates Philippine sovereignty, Philippine fisheries laws, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). CMMV 9622's refusal to answer radio challenges likewise disregards basic norms of good seamanship. The PCG will sustain its presence on and around Kota Island, continue to challenge and drive away foreign vessels operating illegally in Philippine waters, and keep disclosing such activities to the Filipino people. This operation is in accordance with the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has declared that the Philippines will not be cowed into silence, submission, or subservience in the face of illegal and coercive actions by the China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia, and who has called on Filipinos to defend what is ours with firm national resolve.
Jay Tarriela31,179 views • 1 month ago
PCG DISRUPTS AND DRIVES AWAY CHINESE RESEARCH VESSEL JIA HAI KE 7 FROM ITS LOITERING POSITION OFF BATANES DESPITE CHINA COAST GUARD SHIELDING The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) successfully disrupted the unauthorized marine scientific research (MSR) of the Chinese research vessel JIA HAI KE 7 and compelled it to leave the position it had held off Itbayat, Batanes, for four days. At about 11:42 AM today, 01 October 2026, JIA HAI KE 7 departed its loitering position about 37 nautical miles northwest of Itbayat at a speed of 4.6 knots. This is the first time the vessel has moved from the area since the PCG discovered its presence on Monday, 28 September. Its departure followed sustained pressure from BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) and PCG Islander 251, which were deployed this morning to challenge the vessel, disrupt its illegal MSR, and drive it away from Philippine waters. BRP Teresa Magbanua has since been shadowing JIA HAI KE 7 and continuing its maneuvers to drive the research vessel out of the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). China Coast Guard vessel CCG-2503 has repeatedly tried to shield the research vessel and block the PCG ship. Despite the CCG vessel's blocking maneuvers, BRP Teresa Magbanua made its closest approach yet, coming within 50 yards of JIA HAI KE 7. At that time the research vessel was about 40 nautical miles west-northwest of Amianan Island, Batanes. The continued escort of JIA HAI KE 7 by a China Coast Guard vessel again raises serious questions. Why would a government law enforcement ship go to such lengths to protect a supposedly privately owned research vessel that has been conducting illegal MSR over the undersea cable corridors of the Luzon Strait? Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, no foreign vessel may conduct marine scientific research in the Philippine EEZ without the express consent of the Philippine government. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that no such consent was given to JIA HAI KE 7. BRP Teresa Magbanua will continue to shadow and drive away JIA HAI KE 7 until it exits the Philippine EEZ. This operation is in accordance with the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to protect the country's maritime domain and not to tolerate any unauthorized foreign research within Philippine waters.
Jay Tarriela27,787 views • 29 days ago
PCG COMPLETES MEDEVAC OF NAVY PERSONNEL FROM AYUNGIN SHOAL DESPITE CCG WATER CANNON AND DANGEROUS MANEUVERS On 08 October 2026, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) completed the emergency medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of a Philippine Navy personnel stationed aboard BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) at Ayungin Shoal. China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels obstructed the mission and delayed it by nearly ten hours. The PCG deployed BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) from Lawak Island. At around 7:30 AM, the vessel reached a position about 9 nautical miles north of Ayungin Shoal. CCG vessel 5306, which had been making dangerous maneuvers near BRP Cabra, then activated its water cannon. It kept the water cannon running as it closed in from about 1.3 nautical miles to roughly 400 yards of the PCG vessel, apparently to drive BRP Cabra away from the shoal. BRP Cabra was not hit. To keep the vessel and its crew safe, BRP Cabra moved away from Ayungin Shoal and kept radio contact with the CCG while coordinating with LS-57. The PCG had planned a rendezvous point about 2.5 nautical miles northeast of LS-57. Persistent harassment and blocking by CCG vessels made it difficult for BRP Cabra to approach, so the vessel had to stay about 13 nautical miles north of the shoal for several hours. At 12:52 PM, CCG 5306 again radio-challenged BRP Cabra. To protect the patient and the personnel involved, the PCG moved the transfer to a safer rendezvous point farther from LS-57. The AFP and PCG carried out the MEDEVAC under Philippine authority. At 1:46 PM, BRP Cabra launched its rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) with PCG crew, a Maritime Security Team member, and Coast Guard medical personnel aboard. Within a minute, the CCG deployed its own RHIB, which made dangerous maneuvers against the PCG RHIB throughout the 9.2-nautical-mile transit. LS-57 launched two rubber boats toward the rendezvous point, one of them carrying the patient. At around 3:15 PM, the patient and his companion were safely transferred to the PCG RHIB. On the way back, CCG vessel 21585 made dangerous maneuvers about 500 yards off the PCG RHIB's starboard quarter, while CCG 5306 positioned itself about 600 yards off its port quarter. The PCG RHIB reached BRP Cabra shortly before 5:00 PM with no further incident. A PCG medical officer immediately examined the patient, checked his vital signs, and started intravenous fluids. He is now stable and is being transported to port of Buliluyan for further treatment. The PCG also monitored the following vessels in the area during the operation: CCG vessels 5306, 5009, and 21585, Chinese maritime militia vessel Qiongsanshayu 00119, and People's Liberation Army Navy warship 628. A transfer like this would normally take only a few hours. It took nearly ten because of the CCG's water cannon use, its persistent harassment and blocking, and its dangerous maneuvers against PCG assets. Ayungin Shoal lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, as affirmed by the 1982 UNCLOS and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award. Giving medical care to Filipino personnel stationed there is the government's sovereign responsibility, not a privilege granted by any foreign power. Using a water cannon during a humanitarian mission is dangerous and unlawful. It puts lives at sea at risk and violates basic standards of maritime conduct. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan called on the CCG to respect the humanitarian nature of medical evacuation missions in the future. "When a life is at stake, there should be no water cannon, no obstruction, and no delay. Saving a sick or injured person at sea is a basic obligation that every coast guard in the world is expected to uphold. We call on the CCG to value and respect humanitarian missions moving forward, and to act in a manner consistent with international law and the professional standards expected of any coast guard," Admiral Gavan said.
Jay Tarriela20,844 views • 22 days ago
Before China can mislead the international community by claiming that the Philippines is provoking them and escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea, it's important to highlight some key facts. First, China occupied Panganiban Reef in 1995, claiming it would serve only as a fishermen's shelter, even though it is situated within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone. Nearly two decades later, they transformed this shelter into a heavily fortified military base, complete with defense capabilities, a naval base, and an airfield. Secondly, they reclaimed Zamora Reef, which was initially a submerged feature, and developed it into a significant artificial island equipped with a 3,000-meter runway and military infrastructure. This island is positioned near the edge of the Philippines' EEZ, and its proximity to Pag-asa Island, which is occupied by the Philippines, places it within the 12 nautical miles territorial sea generated by Pag-asa Island's maritime entitlements. So, the question arises: who is truly escalating the tension in the West Philippine Sea? We must also consider their ongoing deployment of maritime forces in the area, their aggressive harassment of ordinary fishermen, and their bullying tactics against smaller Philippine Coast Guard vessels.
Jay Tarriela362,341 views • 1 year ago
In an age in which decency and orderly conduct are expected to govern international life almost everywhere except, it would appear, in China itself, the Chinese Communist Party can no longer conceal its bullying and barbaric behavior—even at an international security forum in Seoul, South Korea. Its leaders appear to believe that power exempts them from any obligation of decorum on the world stage. The episode reveals two truths. First, they calculated that such unruly conduct would intimidate other nations into silence over their imperial claims in the South China Sea. Second, they cannot restrain their hostility whenever Secretary Teodoro informs the world how dangerous the region has become because of states such as China, which neither observe international law nor hesitate to defy it. This incident, however, also teaches a larger lesson. It is now unmistakable that the international community must collectively condemn China’s unruly and imperial ambitions. Failure to do so would return humanity to a darker age of civilization—one in which might alone is permitted to decide who is right.
Jay Tarriela37,302 views • 1 month ago
The 2016 Arbitral Award is one of the Philippines’ greatest legal and diplomatic achievements. But whether it remains relevant ten years from now will depend on what we choose to do with it today. It was a privilege to join over 400 friends, partners, and colleagues from government, academia, think tanks, civil society, the diplomatic community, the private sector, and the media at the National West Philippine Sea Summit commemorating the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Award. My special thanks to Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (Department of National Defense - Philippines) and National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban (National Security Council) for their clear-eyed and insightful keynote addresses, which underscored the importance of cascading knowledge, strengthening public understanding, and building national resolve in defending our maritime rights and interests. I also extend my sincere appreciation to WPS Foundation and Dr Jeffrey Ordaniel for convening a truly national and multi-sectoral commemoration. Indeed, this celebration does not belong behind closed doors. This belongs to the Filipino people. And so does the responsibility to preserve, defend, and pass on the legacy of the 2016 Arbitral Award to future generations.
Jay Tarriela72,766 views • 3 months ago