Bajo de Masinloc is located within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Philippines has denounced China’s “unjustified, illegal and reckless” actions in an air incident in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea on Aug. 8 2024.
In a media release on Sunday, Malacañang said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. “strongly condemns” the air incident and stands by the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), especially the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
The AFP reported on Saturday the “dangerous and provocative actions” of China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) which harassed a PAF aircraft conducting maritime patrols over Bajo de Masinloc, located some 120 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales, well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“The actions of the People’s Liberation Army – Air Force aircraft were unjustified, illegal and reckless, especially as the PAF aircraft was undertaking a routine maritime security operation in Philippine sovereign airspace,” the Presidential Palace said in a statement posted on social media. “We have hardly started to calm the waters, and it is already worrying that there could be instability in our airspace,” it added.
The Philippines and China recently reached an agreement to allow the seamless resupply of Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal. Malacañang said the Philippines remains committed to “proper diplomacy and peaceful means of resolving disputes” but urged China to “demonstrate that it is fully capable of responsible action, both in the seas and in the skies.”
“CHINA ADHERE TO THE UNCLOS RULING”
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