PH Navy denies claim of Chinese military base in Bajo de Masinloc

MANILA, February 25 ------ The Philippine Navy refuted a claim by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez that China had already built a military base in Bajo de Masinloc.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said Manila has not monitored any construction in Bajo de Masinloc, though he also noted the continued presence of Chinese coast guard, navy, and maritime militia vessels in the area. Trinidad said there are measures in place to respond to any threats in the country's maritime domain. "There are appropriate security measures in place, to include a more robust Maritime Domain Awareness posture of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)," Trinidad told reporters at a regular media briefing in Camp Aguinaldo. "We have increased our patrols, we have improved our support and sustainment capability; we have increased, improved, and developed the capability of the islands to sustain our forces. These are all geared towards the maritime domain and securing and protecting what is rightfully and legally ours," the official added.

In a television interview, Romualdez claimed that China has "already deployed missiles" in Bajo de Masinloc and that intelligence photos show it "is now a military base." Trinidad said the military has yet to speak with the ambassador regarding his claims. He added, however, that nine Chinese vessels were illegally loitering in Bajo de Masinloc, in addition to nine others in key features of the West Philippine Sea from February 15 to 22. "What we have monitored is the complete illegal presence, and there are buoys that have been established and put up, which have also been removed, and the barrier. Apart from that, no construction has been monitored in Scarborough Shoal," said Trinidad.

Bajo de Masinloc (also known as Scarborough Shoal and Panatag Shoal, historically Panacot) is a group of reefs and rocks located approximately 124 nautical miles west of the coast of Zambales, Luzon, and falls within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. China, however, has maintained de facto control over the shoal since a 2012 standoff, despite a 2016 international arbitral ruling that invalidated its expansive claims in the South China Sea.

Source: philstar.com