On Oct. 22, in two separate incidents Chinese vessels collided with Philippine boats near Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines keeps a permanent troop presence on the ground BRP Sierra Madre. The collisions raised concerns about the potential for escalation or even conflict in the area, which is well within the Philippines’ EEZ but claimed by China.
In this exclusive interview, Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea at the Philippine Coast Guard, discusses the current situation near Second Thomas Shoal (known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines and Ren’ai Jiao in China), the PCG’s strategy for defending the Philippines’ maritime rights, and how China’s actions are evolving in response.