MANILA – Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Thursday decried the parlous maneuvers of two Chinese warships and a China Coast Guard vessel near Bajo de Masinloc on Monday, saying this posed a direct threat to regional stability.
“These actions are not only reckless and dangerous -- they are blatant violation of international maritime norms and an affront to Philippine sovereignty,” Tolentino said in a statement, as he called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to file a formal diplomatic protest against Beijing.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier confirmed the May 5 incident, in which two Jiangkai II-class frigates, bearing bow numbers 554 and 573, and China Coast Guard vessel 5403 engaged in “aggressive and unsafe maneuvers” against the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35) while the latter is conducting routine maritime patrols in support of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard.
The confrontation occurred approximately 11.8 nautical miles southeast of the disputed shoal, also known as Scarborough Shoal.
A Chinese frigate reportedly trailed the PS35 at close range, while the other crossed its bow, creating a potential collision course. The CCG vessel also attempted to block the Philippine ship.
The AFP expressed “serious concern” over the encounter, warning that such “threatening and provocative conduct” increases the risk of miscalculation and could escalate tensions in the region.
“The AFP remains steadfast in defending the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of the Philippines in its vast maritime domain,” the military said, emphasizing its commitment to international and domestic law and the preservation of a rules-based maritime order.
Tolentino echoed these concerns, saying the latest confrontation highlights China’s continued disregard for international rulings and maritime norms, nearly a decade after the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims in the West Philippine Sea in 2016.
“We will not be cowed. The Filipino people will continue to assert what is rightfully ours under international law,” he said, calling on international allies and partners to speak out against China’s latest provocation. (PNA)