Año: No need for military involvement despite Bajo de Masinloc incident

National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday there is no need for the Philippine military to step in despite the recent harassment of China on Philippine ships and aircraft in Bajo de Masinloc.

“Wala pa namang tayong nakikita na anything magti-trigger na papasok yung military so far,” Año told reporters in a phone interview.

(We haven't seen anything that would trigger the military to come in so far.)

Año expressed hope that the situation in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough/Panatag Shoal) will not escalate as he promoted the use of diplomatic efforts and bilateral consultation mechanism to ease the tension instead.

“Hopefully naman ay hindi mag-e-escalate ito. Remember, meron tayong mga diplomatic efforts. Also, meron ding bilateral consultation mechanism. Dapat yan muna yung ating mga primary means para ma-resolve itong differences na ito,” he said.

(Hopefully it won't escalate. Remember, we have diplomatic efforts. Also, we have a bilateral consultation mechanism. That should be our primary means to resolve these differences.)

“So, huwag, hindi tayo magpapanimula ng anumang escalation. Although we are ready to defend our country when the time comes,” he added.

(So, no, we won't initiate any escalation. Although we are ready to defend our country when the time comes.)

Chinese vessels

Meanwhile, based on the data from the Philippine Navy, a total of seven China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and 13 Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted in Bajo de Masinloc as of Tuesday.

The Chinese presence in the area has increased since August 4. 

On Wednesday, a Chinese fighter jet intercepted and conducted dangerous maneuvers against a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) aircraft near Bajo de Masinloc.

Earlier on Monday, several Chinese vessels also harassed Philippine vessels by using a water cannon, performing dangerous maneuvers, and shadowing.

People's Liberation Army Navy ship 164 and CCG vessel 3104 collided while they were chasing PCG's BRP Suluan.

The CCG vessel sustained substantial damage, rendering it unseaworthy, while the flagpole of the PCG vessel was also damaged.

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. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News