The recent actions by the Chinese air force in Scarborough Shoal have taken the Philippines by surprise, especially given recent discussions aimed at deescalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), an official said on Monday.
“Well, I don’t know why they did it, yun ang masasabi ko. They took us by surprise,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said when asked if the incident indicated that talks with China were in bad faith.
During an event for International Humanitarian Day in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Manalo highlighted the need for the Philippines to closely monitor China’s actions.
“China has always said it wanted to deescalate, but every time something like this happens, it tends to raise tensions. So, it’s something that we certainly have to pay close attention to,” he said.
On August 8, two People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft performed “dangerous and provocative actions” against a Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircraft over Scarborough Shoal. The Chinese aircraft executed a hazardous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a PAF propeller aircraft during a routine maritime patrol.
The National Security Council (NSC) condemned the incident, particularly since it occurred during a routine mission using a non-combatant aircraft.
“The use of flares shows a hostile intent…This undermines regional stability,” said NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the act, describing it as “unjustified, illegal, and reckless.”
“The President strongly condemns the air incident in Bajo de Masinloc earlier this week and stands by our brave men and women of the AFP, especially the Philippine Air Force,” the Presidential Communications Office stated.
In response, Manalo said the Philippines will lodge a diplomatic protest against China over the incident.
“Definitely, we’ll protest this latest move, especially as it came at a time when tensions were slightly calming down. The President has come out very strongly on this and we will maintain that position,” he said.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Teresita Daza confirmed that a diplomatic protest would be filed on Monday.
Daza emphasized the Philippines’ commitment to a de-escalatory approach and peaceful dispute resolution in the WPS.
The National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF WPS) called on China to cease aggressive acts in the region, noting that the Philippine military acted with professionalism during the incident.
“Just when the waters of the WPS seemed calm, the airspace above it was disturbed with acts of aggression. Our pilots and crew responded with focus, restraint, and professionalism, unfazed by the aggressive PLAAF jets,” the task force stated.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the National Maritime Council would discuss the incident, which he noted should be expected as a pattern of actions by China.
“They will stick to their narrative, but hopefully, they listen to reason and heed the appeals of not only the Philippines but other countries to temper their moves and act in accordance with international law,” he said.
AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. encouraged PAF pilots to continue their operations in the WPS despite the incident.
“We have instructed our pilots not to be afraid and to continue our maritime patrol in the area because that is our right. We have been doing this for more than three decades already,” Brawner said.
Scarborough Shoal is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, as per the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China’s claims in the South China Sea, stating that it had “no legal basis.” China has not recognized the decision. — RSJ/RF, GMA Integrated News