Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 31) — National Security Adviser Eduardo Año hit the Chinese government on Tuesday for “overhyping” the Philippines’ patrol operations in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, which Beijing decried as “trespassing.”
In a statement, the official said the Philippines has the right to patrol the West Philippine Sea, which includes the shoal that is within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).Año said the government would continue to protect the country’s territory “at all cost.China’s military has accused a Philippine boat of “trespassing” in waters near Scarborough Shoal, which it calls Huangyan Dao, with a senior official saying the move “seriously violated” its sovereignty and international rules.Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson for the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command, even said that the recent event may “highly… cause misunderstanding and miscalculation.The Chinese official urged the Philippines “to immediately stop its infringement and provocation to avoid further escalation.Contrary to China’s claim, Año said the Philippine vessel PS39 completed its routine patrol operations “without any untoward incident.It did not illegally enter any space under Chinese sovereignty because Bajo de Masinloc is part of the PH archipelago and EEZ. Chinese vessels, as usual, conducted shadowing on the movement of PS39,” he said.China is again overhyping this incident and creating unnecessary tensions between our two nations,” the Filipino official added.Año called on China anew to respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and adhere to the 2016 international arbitral tribunal ruling.
