Philippines protests 'belligerent' Chinese actions in Bajo de Masinloc

The Philippines has protested the "belligerent" actions of Chinese Coast Guard to Philippine Coast Guard vessels patrolling and conducting training exercises in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said these actions include "shadowing, blocking, dangerous maneuver and radio challenges."

The DFA maintained that since Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and Bajo de Masinloc are integral parts of the Philippines, it can conduct maritime patrols and training exercises in these areas.

"China has no law enforcement rights in these areas," the DFA said.

"The presence of Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the Philippines' territorial waters of Pag-asa Islands and Bajo de Masinloc, and exclusive economic zone, raises serious concern," it added.

Although the shoal is claimed by the Philippines, an arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands ruled in 2016 that no country can claim sovereign rights over it, saying it is a traditional fishing ground for Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese fishermen.

China refused to recognize the ruling, saying it is within its territory. The shoal is 472 nautical miles from China’s nearest coastal province of Hainan and lies 124 nautical miles off the nearest Philippine landmass of Palawan

China blocked Filipinos from fishing at Scarborough — a U-shaped rocky outcrop rich in marine resources seized by Beijing from Manila in 2012 following a two-month standoff that triggered an international arbitration complaint by the Philippines eight years ago.

The Philippine Coast Guard, together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), conducted training exercises near Bajo de Masinloc on April 24 and 25.

The DFA also said it rejects the April 26 statement of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that China has sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc.

"It (statement) is without basis in international laws, including 1982 United Nations Convention of the law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and is not recognized by the international community," the DFA said.

In his regular press conference on April 26, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin reiterated China's claims over Nansha Islands or Spratly Islands despite the 2016 UN Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that said the islands were within Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Wang also called on the Philippine security forces to stop maritime exercises in the South China Sea, saying it would "escalate disputes" in the area.

In the same statement, the DFA also said it has likewise protested the "incessant, illegal, prolonged and increasing" presence of Chinese fishing and maritime militia vessels in Philippine maritime zones.

"The unauthorized and lingering presence of these vessels is a blatant infringement of Philippine sovereignty," the DFA said, as it once again called on China to withdraw its government vessels around the KIG and Bajo de Masinloc.

The Philippines has filed a series of protests in connection with the presence of the foreign vessels in Julian Felipe Reef and insisted that they be withdrawn immediately.

The DFA said last week some 160 Chinese vessels were spotted in Philippine waters.

In a diplomatic note dated April 21, the DFA said the presence of these vessels in the West Philippine Sea "blatantly infringe upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction."   --with Michaela del Callar/KBK, GMA News