West PH Sea: PH warships hold drills near Bajo de Masinloc

Several warships of the Philippine Navy conducted exercises Friday during a sovereignty patrol in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid the continuing presence of China's so-called monster ship off the Zambales coast.

In a statement, the Philippine Navy said its offshore combat ships held a unilateral exercise to sustain and enhance the operational proficiency of its assets and personnel in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc.

"Headlined by the multi-mission capable frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), PN capital ships currently deployed in the WPS include the Del Pilar-class patrol vessels BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) and BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17),” the Philippine Navy said.

Officers and crew of these vessels trained on routine surface operations to improve their expertise and mastery in handling and manning the modern systems for the efficient use of the combat ships.

According to the Philippine Navy, "the conduct of this routine unilateral exercise demonstrates the importance of training as an effective tool to achieve and maintain the level of readiness and interoperability that is crucial in the fulfillment of the Navy's mandate of securing the seas and upholding the nation's territorial integrity."

Also known as Scarborough Shoal and Panatag Shoal, Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles from Zambales and is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The drills of the Philippine Navy warships in WPS were conducted after Manila filed a diplomatic protest and called on Beijing to withdraw its China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901 or the "monster ship" from Philippine waters.

"The Philippine government is alarmed by the presence of the monster ship," National Task Force - West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said.

"And we have made a clear request and demand with the Chinese government to withdraw their ship. So let’s see what their response will be. We’ll take it from there," he added.

Just last Thursday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that Beijing and Manila have agreed to indefinitely maintain the arrangement for the resupply of daily necessities and rotation missions by the Philippines at another key maritime feature, the Ayungin Shoal.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) first confirmed the presence of the Chinese vessel near Capones Island on January 4.

China's monster ship continued its presence near the coast of Zambales on Thursday despite the Philippines' call to withdraw the vessel, according to the PCG.

"The PCG remains committed to its vigilant monitoring efforts, now entering the 13th day of operations where BRP Gabriela Silang has actively confronted the illegal deployment of CCG vessel 5901 within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)," PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement on Thursday evening.

"The brave men and women aboard the PCG vessel have successfully ensured that the significantly larger Chinese vessel remains at least 70 nautical miles from the coast of Zambales Province," he added.

Tarriela said the PCG, through radio communications, told the CCG that the monster ship's presence in the area violates the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

"Tracking data for the entire day has shown that the movements of the China Coast Guard vessel are inconsistent with the principles established under UNCLOS," he said.

"Freedom of navigation requires continuous and expeditious passage, and it is essential to note that this freedom does not permit illegal patrols by foreign vessels within the EEZ of another state," he added.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, meanwhile, defended their ship's intrusion inside Philippine territory.

"We have responded to similar questions multiple times. Let me reiterate that China's sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and the law and compliant with the international law and practice," the official said.

Guo maintained that the CCG "conducts patrols and law enforcement activities in relevant waters in accordance with the law, which is fully justified."

"We call on the Philippines once again to immediately stop all infringement activities, provocations and false accusations, and stop all its actions that jeopardize peace and stability and complicate the situation in the South China Sea," he added.

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has not recognized the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News