PH vessel's flagpole hit by Chinese warship in Bajo de Masinloc

The flagpole of the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Suluan was bent after getting hit by a warship of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China during an incident near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Monday.

According to a report of GMA Integrated News’ Raffy Tima Tuesday, the PCG vessel sustained the damage when PLAN 164 had a collision with China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104 as the two Chinese ships chased the Philippine vessel.

The PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were on a mission on Monday to distribute aid to local fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) as part of the Kadiwa program. 

However, several Chinese vessels harassed Philippine vessels by using water cannon, performing dangerous maneuvers, and shadowing. 

The PLAN 164 also issued a radio challenge to a PCG aircraft heading toward Bajo de Masinloc for a patrol mission, according to a report of GMA Integrated News’ Jonathan Andal on Unang Balita.

"This is Chinese Navy warship...You are approaching China's territorial airspace. Follow due course and keep away to avoid misunderstanding,” the Chinese warship crew said as heard over PCG’s radio. 

In response, the PCG aircraft told PLAN 164, “This is Philippine Coast Guard BN-2 Islander...You do not possess legal authority to patrol within the Philippine exclusive economic zone."

A Chinese chopper was also seen flying around the area.

Interviewed on Unang Balita on Tuesday morning, PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said PLAN was still spotted in Bajo de Masinloc.

However, Tarriela said the PCG could not detect the CCG 3104, which was damaged after a collision with the Chinese warship. 

The PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua is still deployed in Bajo de Masinloc while BRP Suluan has already left the area Tuesday morning, according to Tarriela.

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday said Philippine assets would never back out.

''We have never instructed any of our vessels to back out,'' Marcos said at a press briefing.

''Never, never. But we have to always – we do not back out because natakot tayo, umatras tayo. Alam mo, I don't know about other places, pero dito sa – dito sa gobyernong ito, hindi tayo umaatras sa laban (We do not back out just because we are scared. In this government, we will not back out.),'' he added. 

''We don't – we don't… We are brave. Filipinos are brave,'' the President said. 

Marcos said the country's uniformed personnel have been doing their duty and mission of defending the Philippines, noting that ''we will not stop doing it.''

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Monday stressed China's claim to the WPS, saying that it had to do what was “necessary to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law.”

“The Philippines’ moves seriously infringed upon China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, and seriously harmed peace and stability at sea. These moves are of a malign nature,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

“China urges the Philippines to stop the infringement and provocative activities at once and refrain from challenging China’s firm resolve to safeguard our lawful rights and interests,” he added.

Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It is also referred to as Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal.

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.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the 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 refused to recognize the decision. —KG, GMA Integrated News