To counter China’s coastguard law, Philippines will deploy more naval assets in South China Sea
To effectively counter China’s new law giving powers to its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels and demolish structures built in disputed waters, the Philippines’ military chief Cirilito Sobejana has said that it will increase its naval presence in the South China Sea to protect its fisherman.“We will increase our visibility through the deployment of more naval assets, but I just want to make clear our navy presence there is not (to) wage war against China but to secure our own people,” said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana.“That pronouncement by China that their coastguard can open fire at people intruding into their territory is very alarming,” Sobejana added.The Philippines has protested against the new law, which country’s officials said would heighten risks of a miscalculation.C