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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Estrada slams China's continued harassment of Philippine maritime personnel in West PH Sea

Estrada slams China's continued harassment of Philippine maritime personnel in West PH Sea

Published Jul 18, 2025 10:24 am

At A Glance

  • Sen. Jinggoy Estrada made the remarks following reports of the China Coast Guard's tailing and obstruction of the BRP Teresa Magbanua near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal last July 15.

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Friday, July 18 once again slammed China’s continued harassment of Philippine maritime personnel and vessels traversing the West Philippine Sea.

Estrada made the remarks following reports of the China Coast Guard’s tailing and obstruction of the BRP Teresa Magbanua near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal last July 15.

But China is now reversing the narrative, accusing the Philippines of a similar tactic, and stating that it is “making high-speed crossings astern" behind two China Coast Guard ships. 

China is also claiming the Philippines “seriously threatened the navigation safety” of their two vessels. 

“Nine (9) years have passed since the Permanent Court of Arbitration upheld our maritime sovereignty and integrity and ruled China’s claims over the West Philippine Sea as baseless under international law. Yet, China continues to ignore this decision and has been incessantly harassing our maritime personnel, scientists, and fisherfolk,” Estrada said. 

“Muli na namang nagpamalas ng dahas ang China Coast Guard at sa pagkakataong ito’y nais pang baligtarin ang katotohanan at palabasin na may mali sa isinagawang maritime patrol ang BRP Teresa Magbanua sa loob mismo ng ating exclusive economic zone (EEZ) noong Hulyo 15 (The China Coast Guard has once again shown its aggression, and this time it wants to distort the truth and make it appear that something went wrong in the maritime patrol conducted by the BRP Teresa Magbanua right inside our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on July 15),” he further lamented.

Estrada said he firmly stands with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the China Coast Guard’s latest act of harassment against the country’s maritime personnel. 

“These aggressive, dangerous, and bullying tactics must stop immediately,” he said.

“No amount of intimidation or coercive behavior can ever erase the fact that the Philippines’ sovereign rights are enshrined in international law — and no hostile action can invalidate what is rightfully ours,” the senator reiterated. 

Related Tags

West Philippine Sea China China Coast Guard Jinggoy Estrada
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