Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. assures that the Philippine will prevent Chinese vessels from swarming within the waters off Batanes following Chinese Embassy's assertion of their alleged claims over the area.

Teodoro noted that the situation in the waters off Batanes which is entirely within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines is also a global concern.

"We will prevent it as much as to our utmost ability, we will, we will prevent it and let's remember that it is also an international strategic waterway of which a global concern," he said when asked if he can assure that the Philippine will not allow the Chinese vessels to also swarm in the area like what it is doing in the West Philippine Sea.

Recently, Guo Wei, the deputy spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy, accused the Philippine Coast Guard of harassing a Chinese research vessel within the waters of Batanes as it asserts its unlawful claim over the area.

China's illegal claim over the waters off Batanes was "strongly rejected" by the Department of Foreign Affairs and defended that the PCG was "conducting lawful and routine law enforcement operations in response to a suspected unauthorized Marine Scientific Research activity" of the Chinese research vessel in the waters off Batanes.

Teodoro said the escalation of tension between the Philippines and China has been a long-standing plan of the People's Republic of China.

"It is their long-time plan, they have a plan for escalation escalation here, for a long time. Whether or not our position is X or Y they have an intention regarding the Republic of the Philippines to co-opt it so we really see that this is part of a narrative," he said. Robina Asido/PHS