China has protested the Philippines' recent move to deploy coast guard vessels and aircraft near Bajo de Masinloc to secure Filipino fishers in the Philippine waters.
Ji Lingpeng, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Manila, said Saturday, Jan. 31, that they lodged solemn representations against the Philippine side both in Beijing and in Manila.
Ji claimed that the Philippines "infringe[d] upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests" when it issued a notam—a written notification issued to pilots before a flight to advise them of circumstances relating to the state of flying—where it announced the establishment of a "military exercise control zone" near Bajo de Masinloc.
Bajo de Masinloc, internationally known as Scarborough Shoal, is being claimed by China to be part of its territory, calling it Huangyan Dao.
Li said Beijing expressed its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition."Huangyan Dao is China’s inherent territory," he claimed, counter to the arbitral award that ruled the Philippines' rights over areas and features within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
"The exercise area drawn on the map by the Philippine side around Huangyan Dao is illegal and invalid," he added.
On Saturday, Li said, China's army organized air forces to transit through the area to supposedly demonstrate its "effective jurisdiction over the territorial waters and airspace of Huangyan Dao."
"China will continue to resolutely safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law, and to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea," he said.