The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is prepared to lend a hand to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to remove the floating barrier installed by Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
A floating barrier was put up by Chinese vessels at the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc on Monday, March 24, to prevent Philippine vessels from entering the shoal, according to the coast guard.
“Close coordination is being maintained with the Coast Guard [and] Northern Luzon Command. In the event that assistance will be needed [from] the AFP, we are ready to provide,” Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson for WPS, said on Tuesday, March 25.
The floating barrier was installed when the PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources conducted a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over Bajo de Masinloc.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for WPS, said Chinese vessels usually put the barrier whenever they monitor the presence of PCG, BFAR, or Filipino fishing vessels.
“This is a measure that they are doing to ensure that we will not be able to get inside Bajo de Masinloc,” he said.
The shoal is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, well within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, but China claims it as part of its territory.