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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Chinese navy ship bombards PCG flight with radio challenges over Bajo de Masinloc

Chinese navy ship bombards PCG flight with radio challenges over Bajo de Masinloc

Published Feb 7, 2026 10:59 am  |  Updated Feb 7, 2026 02:06 pm
Filipino fishing boats are monitored at Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea during an aerial search of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Oct. 6, 2022. (Photo: PCG)
Filipino fishing boats are monitored at Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea during an aerial search of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Oct. 6, 2022. (Photo: PCG)
A Chinese navy vessel repeatedly challenged a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Friday, Feb. 6, a ranking official said.
The PCG, in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), flew an aircraft for the routine MDA flight when a People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) vessel with hull number “553” challenged them, said PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela.
Tarriela said the Philippine forces received 28 radio challenges from the PLA-N ship, warning them not to encroach on waters they claim were part of China, when it reached 81.42 nautical miles northeast of Bajo de Masinloc or 45.08 nautical miles southwest of Agno, Pangasinan.
In response, the Philippine crew answered all radio challenges and insisted that the mission was a legitimate operation conducted “in full accordance with international law.”
Despite the obstruction, the PCG reached Bajo de Masinloc at about 10:30 a.m.
Tarriela said the Philippine aircraft flew circling maneuvers at an altitude of around 6,000 feet.
During the patrol, Tarriela noted that the crew spotted an unidentified fighter jet about 1.79 nautical miles west of the shoal.
The crew also observed two Chinese floating buoys: one was inside the lagoon of the shoal while the other was located around two nautical miles northwest of the shoal.
Bajo de Masinloc is located within the 200-nautical exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Manila but Chinese forces have since formed a blockade to prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing what was once their traditional fishing ground.
This, despite a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s nine-dash-line claims in the South China Sea, including parts of the WPS.
“The PCG and BFAR will continue to conduct regular and lawful maritime patrols to ensure the safety and security of Filipino fishermen and to assert the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela said.

Related Tags

PCG Bajo de Masinloc BFAR maritime domain awareness flight West Philippine Sea
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