Manila, Philippines – The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) considers the sighting of a movable floating object in the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal to be maritime scientific research and data gathering.
Therefore, the inter-agency continues to assess he presence and activities of the said floating object with Chinese personnel on board.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela presented the observation of the said floating object in a press briefing.
According to Tarriela, the PCG first spotted the said floating object on May 25, during the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDW) in the BDM area.
The PCG-MDA subsequently spotted the floating object with six personalities on board, being recorded on May 28, and May 30.
On May 31st, the PCG reportedly noticed a change in the movable floating object.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed serious concern over the activities of Chinese personnel aboard the floating object in the BDM.
The DFA further insisted that the Philippines has legitimate sovereignty and jurisdiction over the BDM, which is within the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
According to DFA Spokesperson for Maritime Affairs Undersecretary Rogelio Villanueva Jr., only the Philippines has the maritime rights to the BDM.
Yesterday, the DFA confirmed that they have filed a proper diplomatic protest against the People’s Republic of China, in relation to the sighted movable object within Philippine territory.
The Chinese embassy has once again asserted that Beijing has jurisdiction over what they call Huangyan Dao, which China’s claim to be part of Nansha Quando.
At the same time, Beijing has insisted on its non-recognition of the South China Sea arbitration award, which they have called illegal, null and void.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News