The Philippines is set to file a diplomatic protest in response to the Chinese Air Force’s dropping of flares near a Philippine Air Force plane patrolling over Bajo de Masinloc last week, according to senior officials on Monday.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasized that China must adhere to international law and work towards de-escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
“Hindi natin puwedeng pabayaan ito… Kung hindi, nag-a-acquiesce tayo,” Teodoro remarked in a chance interview with reporters.
Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo stated that the National Maritime Council will convene within the week to discuss the incident and formulate an appropriate response.
“Definitely, we will protest,” Manalo affirmed, noting that the incident occurred during a period of “calming down” in the tense region.
This event follows the recent Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) held in Manila on July 2, where the Philippines and China pledged to ease tensions.
“China always said it wanted to de-escalate, but every time, of course, na may nangyayari na ganito, certainly, it tends to raise tensions. So, it is something that certainly, we have to pay close attention to,” Manalo noted.
“Every time something like this happens, siyempre, you begin to think,” he added. “I don’t know why they did it. It took us by surprise.”
Manalo reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to resolving disputes through diplomatic and peaceful means.
Meanwhile, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya described China’s use of flares as showing “hostile intent.”
“This is a serious escalation on the part of the People’s Republic of China,” Malaya said in a televised briefing.
“Nananawagan po kami sa National Security Council, sa National Task Force West Philippine Sea sa China na tigilan na itong mga ganitong provocative actions against a routine mission by the Philippine Air Force kasi this undermines regional stability at the same time pinapababa rin nito ang pagtingin ng international community sa People’s Republic of China,” he stated.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. reported that a PAF NC-212i propeller-driven light transport aircraft was conducting a “routine maritime patrol” over Bajo de Masinloc—also known as Panatag and Scarborough Shoal—on August 8 when two PLAAF aircraft “executed a dangerous maneuver at around 9:00 AM and dropped flares in the path of our NC-212i.”
“Bawal ‘yong ganong kalapit at maglabas ng flares in the path of another aircraft. That is wrong. Very dangerous, illegal po ‘yong ginawa nilang maneuvers na ‘yon, and provocative,” Brawner remarked.
The AFP will continue its maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea, according to Brawner.
Teodoro warned that China’s actions could signify a “continuous pattern.”
“Ito ay continuous na struggle for presence and for assertion of sovereign rights in the area so you will have to expect this thing to happen,” he said.