The final decision on deploying Navy vessels to "shadow" Philippine missions in the West Philippine Sea lies with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Saturday.

The Philippines on Wednesday accused China of sending its Navy ships to shadow vessels at the Bajo de Masinloc. National Maritime Council Spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez noted that this was the first time that People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels “came quite near and participated in the blocking or aggressive movements of the Chinese vessels.

China brands US, other Philippines allies ‘troublemakers’ MANILA, Philippines — It’s up to President Marcos to decide if he would allow the deployment of warships in the West Philippine Sea as a foil to China’s growing aggressiveness in asserting its illegal territorial claim,