The announcement of the conduct of live fire exercises in the West Philippine Sea is China’s new scheme to intimidate Filipino fishermen and Philippine authorities in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc, a top security official said.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said it was the first time that the China’s People’s Liberation Army issued the announcement of live fire exercises and this, violated international protocol for such action.

“I think this is the first time that this kind of ploy was done by the PRC (People’s Republic of China). Instantly or suddenly announcing that there is a live fire in an area that is actually within our exclusive economic zone, an area where it is leading to the entrance of the shoal,” said Año.

“Normally there are procedures to be followed. For example, this live fire should be done in international waters. And also with notification ahead of the schedule. But this one is just instantaneous,” he added.

The Philippine Coast Guard earlier said that the live fire warning made by China happened before one of its vessels harassed a ship of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources at the Bajo de Masinloc.

For Año, such another aggressive move from China appeared to be new scheme as part of its attempt to take control of almost the entire South China Sea, a claim that was already invalidated by a United Nations tribunal.

Chinese Navy, Coast Guard and maritime militia have been using harassments like use of water cannon and intentional ramming of Philippine vessels, the recent incident resulted in two Chinese vessels engaging in collision while trying to ram a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.

The use of live fire warning, according to Año, is new.

“I think they're trying to again make another ploy or what you call trying to make another new normal in order to intimidate our BFAR, our Coast Guard and our fishermen,” said Año.

“I think the PRC is also waiting for the reaction of the international community. But we are condemning such kind of action,” he stressed.

But no amount of such harassment and intimidation would discourage Philippine authorities in asserting the country’s rights over Bajo de Masinloc and over the West Philippine Sea.

“We will continue to be there. We will assert our presence. Because Scarborough Shoal is part of our territory. Its waters are within our Exclusive Economic Zone. So no matter what the PRC will do against our vessels, our coast guard, our fishermen, our people there, we will continue to be there and make sure that our presence is always felt,” he said.

Such a new ploy to intimidate China, according to Año, may only worsen the situation in the South China Sea.

“This is an aggressive illegal act that we are condemning. And we want China to stop all these kinds of aggressive actions because this is not really doing good to our relationship and this is already what we call taboo in the modern world,” said Año.