Chinese Navy has joined China's Coast Guard in blocking Philippine vessels within the country's waters, National Maritime Council (NMC) Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said.
The People's Liberation Army-Navy of China used to be only "on the background" of these incidents between Chinese ships and Philippine vessels, however, joined in blocking the country's recent legitimate operations in the Bajo de Masinloc.
"[N]akita natin na mayroon ding presensiya ng isang PLA Navy. Basically, bago ito kasi dati noon nasa background lang sila e, pero ngayon sila ay lumapit at nakiisa sila doon sa pagmamatiyag at pagba-block ng path ng ating Coast Guard at BFAR vessels (We saw that there was a presence of PLA Navy. Basically, this is new because before they were only in the background, but now they got closer and joined in the surveillance and blocking of our Coast Guard and BFAR vessels)," Lopez said in a televised interview on Thursday, Dec. 5.
"Ang gusto lang kasing ipahiwatig dito na … o narrative kasi nila (What they want to say...their narrative is) that they control the area. Pero (But) their mere presence nila is actually illegal because as per international law, UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling, ang lugar na iyon ay atin (that area is ours)," Lopez said.
The NMC official was referring to the recent incident in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) where China Coast Guard launched water cannon attacks and rammed a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that was on a maritime patrol.
Lopez is hopeful that the presence of the Chinese Navy would not escalate the tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
"We hope not ‘no. So, we are calling the attention of the Chinese government because if they deploy navy vessels, it escalates; the area is further militarized. And of course, if that's a war ship, it sends a chilling effect, especially civilian vessels; the area is being militarized," Lopez said in mixed English and Filipino.
"So that’s why—although, on the part of our government, especially our Armed Forces, we expect these things, eh because they are trying to come up with a narrative that they own the area, they control the area. But in truth and in fact ay hindi, mali iyon (no, that's not right)," he added.
Lopez also stressed that despite the new development, the Philippines will not resort to any violent activities in the area, reiterating President Marcos' order to settle disputes in a peaceful manner.
"Well, naiintindihan namin iyong feeling ng ating mga kababayan. Bakit hindi natin ilagay ang Navy? Alam mo, ang posisyon natin diyan, especially very clear ang ating Presidente na lahat ng dispute, conflict situations ay gagawin natin sa peaceful means or diplomatic actions and mechanisms (Well, we understand the feeling of our fellowmen. Why not deploy our Navy as well? You know, our position there, especially very clear that the President wants all dispute, conflict situations to be resolved through peaceful means or diplomatic actions and mechanisms)," Lopez said.
The NMC official further said the Philippines cannot deploy its Navy there as it would potentially escalate the situation, saying "we do not know what will happen next if ever there is a misunderstanding, misinformation."