LOCSIN NIXES COAST GUARD ASSIGNMENT AT PHL EMBASSY

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., on Tuesday opposed suggestions to assign a Philippine Coast Guard attaché at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing.

“Flat no. We have a Defense attaché for national defense issues. A separate Coast Guard attaché means we concede exclusive sovereignty over our coastal waters so they are now subject to discussion instead of automatic protest,” Locsin said on his Twitter account.

The proposal to have a counterpart coast guard attaché in Beijing was mentioned at a highlevel meeting between the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and former PCG commandant Joel Garcia, who was quoted as saying, he“recognized the importance of designating a coast guard attaché,” in Beijing.

It was also reported that the coast guards had wanted to set up a “hotline communication mechanism” and “communication protocol for engagement at sea between coast guards”to increase cooperation between the two countries.

Locsin, however, said he does not want anyone discussing with foreign counterparts the country’s naval maneuvers.

“No. I don’t want anyone discussing with his foreign counterpart what naval maneuvers are or are not acceptable. Territory and territorial prerogatives are not the subject of discussion but only of diplomatic protests or war under the MDT [Mutual Defense Treaty],” he said in a subsequent tweet.

Asked whether the independent foreign policy of the Philippines that DFA is pursuing means friendship with both China and the United States, the secretary said, “Yes, absolutely.”

Locsin, in an interview with Karen Davila on Headstart, gave a clearer picture of the country’s foreign policy direction, when he said: “For me, first and foremost is Philippine interests. And I repeatedly said, even while affirming the necessity of American presence in the region, I’ve also said that I will not turn against the economic opportunities offered by China.”

He added that these opportunities offered “the most prospect for mutual progress.”

While China continues its aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, the DFA under Locsin has consistently filed diplomatic protests, the last lodged just last week.

Last month, Chinese Coast Guard vessels were reported to have destroyed Filipino fish aggregating devices called payao in Bajo de Masinloc, meriting another diplomatic complaint from the Philippines.

“On the military aspect, we need them [Americans], because our whole defense posture depends on our mutual defense treaty [MDT],” he said.