Philippine 'Angels' aim to de-escalate South China Sea encounters

The Manila Times

Philippine 'Angels' aim to de-escalate South China Sea encounters  Seawoman Second Class Stephane Villalon's voice reverberated on the bridge of her Philippine ship as she issued a radio challenge to a much larger Chinese Coast Guard vessel in a area of the South China Sea. The 28-year-old is one of the Philippine Coast Guard's 81 'Angels of the Sea,' graduates of an all-women training program aimed at defusing encounters in the critical waterway.  PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD / AFP VIDEO  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net     Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes #WorldNews #Philippines #WestPhilippineSea

Transcript

00:00This is Philippine Coast Guard Vessel, BRP Cabra, MRRV 4409.

00:07You are sailing within Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

00:11You are requested to provide the following.

00:14Your intention, last and next port of call at Channel 16. Over.

00:22In accordance with the international and Philippine national law,

00:26you are within Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

00:30Your action will affect Philippine-China relations and will be reported to concerned authorities. Over.

00:56This is Philippine Coast Guard Vessel, Gabriela Sila.

01:25Under Republic Act 12064, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act,

01:30the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,

01:34you do not possess any legal authority to patrol within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

01:40You are directed to depart immediately and notify us of your intention.

01:45Your illegal activity will be reported to higher authorities. Over.

01:51The Philippine Coast Guard specifically chose women as angels of the sea

01:57to create a soft approach in handling maritime disputes within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

02:08So, we believe that women have unique characteristics that will make us more fit in this role.

02:20Within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, in accordance with Republic Act 1206,

02:27the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which you are P01,

02:33you are advised that you are currently sailing within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

02:39Your illegal activity will be reported to higher authorities. Over.

02:44At first, it was unexpected.

02:49It will be this critical intention between the Philippines and China.

03:01At first, I didn't thought that it would be this risky,

03:08but I am actually willing to take the risk.

03:14I always try not to let my emotions take over.

03:20I focus on my job, which is to soften the conflict with the Chinese Coast Guard.

03:31Given my job as a raider woman, as an angel of the sea,

03:37I have come to realize that I am a kind of woman who is brave but kind.

03:46I am a woman of dignity who takes pride in serving our country with honor.

03:56I am a kind of woman who inspires people, not just because I am willing to fight,

04:07but because I want to make fighting unnecessary.

04:11In fact, a good testament is our angels of the sea.

04:21They have things that make them more effective and more beautiful than men,

04:30especially in our trust of communicating with our maritime law enforcement counterparts.

04:38It also helps when we engage with the Chinese Coast Guard.

04:42We use women who are not aggressive or confrontational.

04:48Somehow, we can ease the tension in the area.

04:53It's a positive effort.

04:54It's just that I don't know the extent of its effectivity.

04:58It's a very novel idea.

05:02It's a good way of harnessing the strength of women.

05:11There's, of course, gendered assumptions about women being more peaceful, calming.

05:18I think that's their premise of having that program.

05:22The intention of the program is to de-escalate tensions.

05:26On the other hand, if China wants to escalate tensions or intrude in our territories,

05:33they will continue to do it.

05:35They will continue to do what it wants to promote their interests at sea.

05:56For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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