PCG denies deal with China on maritime cooperation

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March 22, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has distanced itself from a supposed maritime cooperation with China, including on joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea, as announced by the Chinese ambassador.

“As far as the PCG is concerned, based on my last conversation with the commandant, we are not involved in crafting this coast guard cooperation with China, specifically regarding plans for joint patrols,” PCG spokesman on West Philippine Sea issues Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said on Friday.

According to Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, the draft coast guard cooperation agreement between the Philippines and China is 95 percent complete and could be finalized after the next round of political dialogues.

He said such an agreement would ease maritime tensions through formal collaboration between Manila and Beijing on environmental protection, trash collection and search-and-rescue operations.

The Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) has repeatedly engaged the PCG in confrontations at sea, resorting to dangerous maneuvers and even water cannon attacks to intimidate or drive away PCG vessels and fishing boats.

On Friday, Tarriela reported that Chinese forces launched flares and repeatedly challenged PCG aircraft on a maritime domain awareness flight near Panganiban Reef.

The PCG official was on a flight with a group of journalists after accompanying Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who attended a moving-up ceremony on Pag-asa Island.

“This is dangerous on our part because we cannot really expect how far the flares can reach the aircraft,” Tarriela said.

‘Very hot’

In an interview with dwIZ yesterday, Gatchalian said he personally witnessed the ominous presence of CCG and Chinese militia vessels around the island municipality.

He said his flight received radio challenges from China warning them that they were entering “Chinese airspace.”

“I saw with my own eyes, the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese militia presence. The situation is hot, not just the weather,” Gatchalian said.

He said the Senate will continue supporting moves to develop Pag-Asa Island’s schools, health centers, runway and other infrastructure facilities to help the families in the island municipality thrive.

Political warfare

Meanwhile, Ray Powell, executive director of the SeaLight Foundation, has warned of a China-linked influence network operating in the Philippines, whose mission is to broaden Beijing’s “political warfare” campaign to legitimize its activities in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking at a news forum in Quezon City, Powell said the network operates through Chinese-language media, education institutions and civic organizations.

“Beijing’s goal is not just to control reefs in the West Philippine Sea. It is to convince Filipinos to stop resisting and accept Chinese control as a permanent reality,” Powell said.

He added that the campaign includes both maritime activities and domestic influence efforts.

“Their campaign of maritime occupation depends on an equally aggressive campaign of political warfare here in Manila,” he said.

Powell identified the Philippine Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China as a key organization, describing it as part of a global network of groups allegedly tied to Beijing. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Mark Ernest Villeza