PH voices concern over ‘dangerous’ Chinese actions
ARMED Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. yesterday said China has stepped up its level of aggression in the West Philippine Sea, stressing that it deployed a warship to harass a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel last Monday.
In an ambush interview after the celebration of the 124th police service anniversary at Camp Crame, Brawner said the Chinese Navy ship, with bow number 164, intended to ram the PCG vessel BRP Suluan, which was on a supply mission for Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
But BRP Suluan outmaneuvered the Chinese Navy ship and a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel with bow number 3104, leading to a collision between the chasing Chinese vessels.
The Chinese Navy ship hit and caused substantial damage to the forward portion of the CCG vessel.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is “seriously concerned” over the dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese vessels, stressing the maneuvers unlawfully interfered with a routine humanitarian operation conducted by the PCG for Filipino fishermen in the area, which Manila considered a “longstanding and integral part” of its territory.
“Their actions not only posed a grave danger to Philippine personnel and vessels, but also resulted in the unfortunate collision between the two Chinese,” the DFA said, according to Reuters.
Before the collision, the BRP Suluan was targeted with a water cannon. The PCG said the “seamanship skills by PCG crew members allowed the vessel to successfully evade getting hit.
“Our assessment there is that the real objective of the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy ship is to ram our Philippine Coast Guard (vessel). That is also the assessment of our Philippine Coast Guard,” said Brawner.
“Fortunately, the (Philippine) Coast Guard was fast and evaded the PLA Navy and Chinese Coast Guard. This led to the collision between the two Chinese vessels,” said Brawner.
China has traditionally used its Coast Guard and maritime militia to harass PCG and even Filipino-flagged vessels in the West Philippine Sea in the past years.
“We’ve seen a change in the tactics of China. They deployed their PLA Navy and this is a sign that China has become aggressive. This is already a different level,” said Brawner.
Noting China’s earlier claim that the Philippines is the source of trouble in the West Philippine Sea, Brawner said last Monday’s incident proved that it is China that is causing trouble in the area.
“They are to blame for the mishap; it’s due to their aggressive maneuvers,” Brawner said.
He said the military is due to have a meeting with the PCG to discuss future actions in dealing with situations similar to last Monday’s incident.
“Of course, we’re also going to seek guidance from our President because of what has happened,” said Brawner without saying when the meeting will take place.
“We’re going to discuss future actions, future tactics to counter what China is doing to prevent us from getting close to Bajo de Masinloc,” said Brawner.
One of the options, Brawner said, is to send Philippine Navy ships nearer to the shoal to ensure the safety of the PCG when doing humanitarian missions in the area, noting the Navy has been staying at a far distance from the shoal.
“We have many options available. Another option is to have a joint sail with our allies. We should remember that we are not alone in this region. We have other players in the region. So we may come together to act against these aggressive actions by China,” said Brawner.
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said similar mishaps may occur in the future if China does not cease such illegal actions in the contested area.
“So long as they will maintain their ICAD (illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive) activities and presence, incidents like this may happen again in the future,” said Trinidad.
Asked if they expect China to be more aggressive in preventing Philippine presence in the vicinity of the shoal following the incident last Monday, Trinidad said: “We do not speculate. We do not anticipate that so long as they have their illegal presence, their coercive and aggressive actions will continue.”
Trinidad implied that the harassment against the PCG vessel was not enough for the Navy to step in.
Trinidad said military units are governed by rules of engagement, or “rules that govern the use of force for mission accomplishment.”
“The Chief of Staff has been very clear that in all operations in the West Philippine Sea to include Bajo De Masinloc, the use of force for mission accomplishment is not authorized without infringing on the universal right of self-defense, defense of one’s unit or defense of others,” said Trinidad.
“The guidance has been very clear in conducting our aerial missions, in conducting our patrols, maritime patrols, and air surveillance flights. The use of force is not authorized except for self-defense situations,” added Trinidad.
PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, meanwhile, commended the 43 personnel of BRP Suluan.
Gavan welcomed the crew of the vessel during rites at Pier 15, Port Area in Manila yesterday.
“You have proven that indeed we are the most durable point man in keeping the peace at sea,” Gavan said.
The vessel outmaneuvered the chasing Chinese Navy and Chinese Coast Guard vessels at Scarborough Shoal during a harassment incident at the shoal.
“Bravo Zulu (well done), everyone,” said Gavan.
“There are lots of things to do, but always keep in mind that what you’ve done, you should always remain calm, you should always remain professional yet unyielding in the face of whoever they are,” added Gavan.
DFA STAND
The DFA said Monday’s incident highlights the need for all seafaring nations to adhere to international maritime rules such as the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention.
“The Philippines has repeatedly emphasized the importance of maritime safety, and is prepared to work with relevant parties to draw lessons from this incident,” it said.
Bajo de Masinloc came under Chinese control after it reneged on an agreement for the two countries to pull out their vessels in the area following a tense standoff in 2012 between their respective ships.
The DFA said Manila will “continue to maintain our presence in the West Philippine Sea and will unstintingly assert and protect its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in accordance with international law,” despite China’s aggressive actions.
At the same time, the DFA said the country will continue to utilize diplomacy and dialogue to manage the situation in the WPS “constructively and settle disputes peacefully.”
A statement issued by China’s Foreign Ministry Monday night did not mention the collision of two of its vessels, and instead accused Manila of making provocative actions and stirring trouble in the area.
European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro said the regional bloc is concerned about the incident at Scarborough Shoal.
“Deeply concerned by the incident at Scarborough Shoal on 11 August. The EU reiterates its call for a peaceful settlement of disputes, in compliance with the rules-based international order and international law, including UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral award,” Santoro said.
DIPLOMATIC PROTEST
Foreign Affairs chief Ma. Theresa Lazaro said they are preparing a diplomatic protest to Beijing over the dangerous maneuvers of its vessels against Philippine ships at Bajo de Masinloc.
“We are in the process of doing so,” Lazaro told reporters late Tuesday afternoon in a chance interview after she exchanged notes with Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya regarding the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Tokyo.
But she said the DFA has yet to summon the Chinese Ambassador to Manila to explain the matter, adding the statement issued earlier Tuesday by the DFA, where it said it was “seriously concerned” about China’s dangerous maneuvers, clearly outlined Manila’s stand.
ACCESS AGREEMENT
Endo said the RAA, which will allow Manila and Tokyo to work more closely on defense and security matters as well as allow joint training exercises between the two countries’ militaries, would become effective on September 11 this year.
“This swift and decisive progress speaks to the urgency and strategic value both our nations attach to our security and defense cooperation. Japan recognizes the Philippines as an indispensable partner, strategically positioned at the heart of the Indo-Pacific, and united through our shared core values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law,” the Japanese envoy said.
Lazaro said the RAA also showed the enhanced strategic partnership between the two countries.
“This will also signify Japan’s clear commitment to the Philippines’ efforts to advance our defense capabilities in support of the Philippines’ firm assertion of its sovereignty and sovereign rights in today’s fast-evolving regional security landscape,” the DFA chief added.
The RAA was signed in July 2024 and ratified by President Marcos Jr. in November 2024.
The Senate then followed suit in December last year, and the Japanese Diet last June.
Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun of Zambales said “karma” is going after China, adding that its aggression “endangers not only our people but their own.”
“What happened on Monday is karma manifesting itself, if the Chinese understand the word. What goes around comes around. Unfortunately for them, they were at the receiving end of their own misdeed,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said: “The Chinese have become victims of their own aggression. They are not supposed to be in Scarborough in the first place. They are intruders there.”
“That area off Zambales and Pangasinan is what is known to our fishermen as Bajo de Masinloc. It is their traditional fishing ground,” Ortega said.
ARBITRAL RULING
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro yesterday reminded everyone of the 1996 arbitral ruling that invalidated the historical claims of China over almost the entire South China Sea amid the latest claim of the Chinese government that the Philippines infringed on its sovereign rights and deliberately took provocative actions against them in connection with the latest incidents near the Scarborough Shoa.
Castro had deferred the issue to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), adding that the Philippines cannot stop China from making such statements or claims.
She, however, noted that in 2016, the arbitral tribunal had affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its maritime zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
“Hintayin po natin ang sagot ng DFA patungkol po diyan. Pero alam po natin at mayroon naman pong naging arbitral award or ruling kung ano ang sinasabing karapatan ng Pilipinas (Let us wait for the DFA’s response about this. But we know that there is an arbitral award or ruling about the rights of the Philippines),” she said.
Castro also said that the Philippines looks at any form of harassment in the West Philippine Sea as serious, as lives are at stake.
She said the country would not back down nor be aggressive but would just continue to defend the country, its sovereign rights and territory.
“Kahit na anong klase na maaari masabi nating pangha-harass eh, seryoso iyon, dahil buhay din po ang nakataya rito. Pero hindi po nga aatras ang Pangulo, hindi po tayo magiging agresibo, dedepensa lamang po tayo, iyan din po ang sabi ng ating Pangulo (Whatever type of harassment, it’s serious because lives are at stake. But the President will not back down. We will not be aggressive, only defensive),” she said.
Castro said the government would continue to provide aid to Filipino fishermen who are affected by the dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
She reiterated the President’s pronouncement that Philippine forces would not withdraw from Bajo de Masinloc despite the latest incidents. – With Ashzel Hachero, Jocelyn Reyes and Wendell Vigilia
