Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said China’s claim that a Philippine boat “trespassed” waters near Bajo de Masinloc was only set out to increase tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
\”The statement of the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), alleging that the BRP Conrado Yap (PS39) intruded in the waters near Bajo de Masinloc on 30 October 2023, has no legal basis and only serves to raise tensions in the West Philippine Sea,\” the DFA said in a statement.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año was the first to react to China’s allegation on Tuesday, saying Beijing is “again overhyping this incident and creating unnecessary tensions between our two nations.”
Año said the Philippine boat completed its routine patrol operations in the general vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc \”without any untoward incident.\”
The DFA said the country’s conduct of maritime patrols in the waters around Bajo de Masinloc is a \”legitimate and routine act of a sovereign country in its territory and territorial sea.\” It added that the high-tide feature is part of Manila’s administrative responsibility.
\”There is no obligation for the Philippines as the sovereign state to seek the approval of another when navigating its own territorial sea,\” it said.
The Foreign Affairs department said \”[i]t is China that is intruding into Philippine waters.\”
The United States Embassy told CNN Philippines that it is urging China to respect the navigational rights and freedoms guaranteed to all States under international laws.
\”The PLA’s persistent swarming and shadowing of the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard – as well as of fishing and other vessels – near Scarborough Reef are detrimental to regional peace and stability,\” it added.
The Chinese Embassy has yet to respond to CNN Philippines’ request for comment.
China continues to reject the 2016 arbitral award which invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea and upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights in areas of its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf that are being claimed by the East Asian giant. China even released its expanded 10-dash line claim.
The Philippines has called on China anew to adhere to the ruling and respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It has also consistently demanded that Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc leave the area immediately, the DFA added.
The recent incident in the contested waters comes ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s official visit to the Philippines from Friday to Saturday.
He is set to hold a bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and part of their discussions is the WPS issue.
