PCG aircraft challenged by Chinese Navy vessel during patrol over Scarborough Shoal

MANILA, March 9 ------ A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) aircraft carrying an ABS-CBN News team received multiple radio challenges from a Chinese warship while conducting a maritime patrol over Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea. The PCG Cessna Caravan aircraft was flying a maritime domain awareness (MDA) mission when a vessel from the People's Liberation Army Navy with bow number 554 issued radio challenges to the aircraft.

According to PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, several Chinese vessels were monitored in the area during the patrol. Two ships from the People’s Liberation Army Navy, two vessels from the China Coast Guard, and three Chinese maritime militia vessels were observed near Bajo de Masinloc. “We responded back and we also challenged their presence that the Chinese maritime forces do not have legal sovereignty claim dito sa Pagasa (Island) because that’s the way they always justify their presence there,” said Tarriela.

The PLA-Navy’s radio challenge was not very clear, but it meant only one thing—that the PCG aircraft was supposedly already inside China’s territory. This was despite the shoal being only about 124 nautical miles from the coast of Iba, Zambales, well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. “This is the Philippine Coast Guard Aircraft… you are advised that you are currently sailing within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone approximately 109 nautical miles from the coastline of Iba, Zambales… You do not possess any legal authority to operate in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. You are directed to depart immediately,” the PCG responded.

From the air, the patrol team also saw two China Coast Guard vessels closely trailing the PCG patrol ship BRP Cape San Agustin operating near the shoal. Tarriela said such patrols are meant to counter China’s narrative of control in the disputed waters. “The reason why we are doing the MDA flight, the reason why we are doing sovereign patrols is to prevent the normalization of the Chinese government na sasabihin nilang they have effective control, meron silang administration sa area na ito. The mere fact that our coast guard vessels are patrolling these areas, ibig sabihin hindi ‘yan totoo,” he said.

One Chinese warship was also spotted about two miles from the shoal itself. Floating barriers reportedly installed by Chinese forces were also seen near Bajo de Masinloc, which Filipino fishermen say prevent them from entering the area. “For the Philippine Coast Guard, we just keep on patrolling our waters and asserting our rights despite the harassment, the bullying activities of the Chinese government,” Tarriela said.

Despite tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Tarriela said developments in the region appear unrelated to the ongoing unrest in the Middle East. “The number of the vessels that are here particularly the Chinese maritime forces remains to be the same so wala naman tayong makikitang dahilan para sabihing there is a relation between what is happening in the Middle East and also what is happening in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

In February alone, more than 60 Chinese vessels were monitored across the West Philippine Sea, with about 20 spotted near Bajo de Masinloc. The PCG reiterated that it will continue patrolling the area to defend the country’s rights and sovereignty.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com