PH, China ships face off in WPS anew; joint patrol with US concludes

Chinese ships attempted to drive away vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that were providing assistance to Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea.

According to Jun Veneracion’s Thursday report on “24 Oras,” a Chinese warship issued a radio challenge to Filipino ships in the disputed are. A BFAR aircraft responded to the transmission,

During BFAR’s and PCG’s regular maritime domain awareness flight, Chinese Coast Guard ships and People’s Liberation Army Navy warships were seen driving away Filipino vessels.

Four BFAR vessels and PCG’s BPR Cape San Augustin were in Bajo de Masinloc for their regular Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda Program, where they deliver supplies to Filipino fishermen.

The shoal lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“We were able to monitor two destroyer class and the other one replenishment vessels and six China Coast Guard vessels. It has always been a David and Goliath battle. Despite our size, despite our number of assets, patuloy natin tinitindigan ang West Philippine Sea,” said Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.

During the BFAR’s aircraft monitoring, yellow buoys installed by China were seen in Bajo de Masinloc and its vicinity.

BFAR vessels will stay near the Bajo de Masinlic to give crude, ice, food, and other supplies to Filipino fishermen.

Meanwhile, the 9th bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity of the Philippines and the United States concluded, where the Philippine Navy guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal engaged in a surveillance operation with the USS Rafael Peralta, a guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy.

Overhead, the Philippine Air Force FA-50 light combat jets also joined a US Navy P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft conduct a maritime patrol. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News