No basis in China’s planned detention of ‘trespassers’ in West PH Sea — AFP

Metro Manila, Philippines – China’s planned detention of what it calls trespassers in the West Philippine Sea has no legal basis, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Wednesday, May 22.

China has released new guidelines, including trespasser detention, after non-government group Atin Ito conducted a civilian mission in Bajo de Masinloc, also called Scarborough Shoal.

Beijing gave its coast guard permission to arrest people it considers trespassers.

“I would like to emphasize the statement of our commander in chief, this is totally unacceptable. First and foremost, it has no basis in international law. It has already been ruled by the arbitral tribunal that the nine-dash line doesn’t have any legal entitlements. Hence, any action by the Chinese Coast Guard is illegal; it is unacceptable,” said Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.

More Chinese vessels
After the Atin Ito civilian mission, authorities observed a rise in the number of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

From May 7 to 13, there were 76 Chinese maritime militia vessels in the disputed area. The AFP then recorded 108 Chinese maritime militia vessels from May 14 to 20.

The military said it has regular deployment in the West Philippine Sea, noting that its plans are proactive and dynamic.

It said it will continue doing its mandate of protecting the country’ s sovereignty.

WESCOM official reassigned
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, former AFP Western Command chief, has been reassigned to the headquarters support command of the General Headquarters under the Office of the Chief of Staff.

“He was reassigned because he was on leave. Because he was on leave, then nag-drag on ‘yung leave niya, nag-submit siya ng extension of his leave, and because it’s a salient post, we have to designate somebody full time in his place,” AFP spokes spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla said.

Carlos was tagged as the Philippine official whom the Chinese Embassy in Manila had a conversation with regarding a “new model” in the West Philippine Sea.

Under the scheme, the Philippines will limit its vessels to Second Thomas Shoal, or Ren’ai Reef for China, for resupply missions, and that it should notify China of its trips.