West Philippine Sea: Romualdez hits China’s action vs PH military plane

This photo taken on February 15, 2024 shows an aerial view of the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — China’s “aggressive action” against a Philippine military plane patrolling over the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) does not speak well of its ambition to be a world leader, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Monday.
In a statement, the leader of the House of Representatives said disputes between neighbors cannot be solved if one side always resorts to “aggression, harassment, and bullying.”
Last Aug. 8, Chinese multirole fighter jets dropped flares in the path of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) twin-prop NC-212i plane over the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
“This latest aggressive action of China does not promote peace and stability in the West Philippine Sea and in the region. It does not speak well of a country trying to be a world power and leader,” Romualdez said.
According to Romualdez, the House will continue to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration and the entire PAF personnel in securing the country’s territory.
Article continues after this advertisement“We support our personnel and we thank them for their courage, bravery, and patriotism for protecting our national territory and sovereignty,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementArmed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has condemned the “provocative actions” of China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force, saying it “endangered the lives of our personnel undertaking maritime security operations.”
“The incident posed a threat to Philippine Air Force aircraft and its crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, and contravened international law and regulations governing the safety of aviation,” he added.
READ: AFP chief: China fighters ‘endangered’ PAF plane
READ: China air force harassed PH patrol aircraft over Scarborough Shoal – AFP
China asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the WPS, despite the July 2016 arbitral award rejecting Beijing’s nine-dash-line claim, now ten-dash-line.
Located 220 kilometers west of Zambales province, the Scarborough Shoal is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EZZ), but China has been claiming ownership of the shoal.
This is not the first time that China’s aggressive action was seen at the Scarborough Shoal.
During the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III, a standoff in the area led to the Philippines’ filing of an arbitration case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague in 2013.
The case stemmed from an incident on April 8, 2012, when a Philippine Navy surveillance plane found eight Chinese fishing boats anchored at the Scarborough Shoal. These vessels were filled with illegally collected corals, giant clams, and live sharks.
However, two Chinese maritime surveillance ships entered the mouth of the shoal and positioned themselves between the Chinese boats and BRP Gregorio del Pilar, blocking the arrest of the Chinese fishermen.
READ: What Went Before: Panatag Shoal standoff
In July 2016, just days after Aquino finished his term, the PCA ruled in favor of the Philippines.
The tribunal declared that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the WPS and that China’s nine-dash-line has no historical and legal basis.
READ: PH wins arbitration case over South China Sea
Romualdez reiterated that China’s claim over the Scarborough Shoal has no legal basis.
“They should not insist on this baseless claim. It is against the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which both the Philippines and China are signatories,” he said.
“Bajo de Masinloc is 120 nautical miles from Luzon and is clearly within our EEZ, while it is 594 nautical miles from China’s Hainan Island,” he added. With reports from Ysabel Escalona, trainee
For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions.