China conducts aggressive naval maneuvers near Bajo de Masinloc

Chinese naval and coast guard vessels conducted aggressive maneuvers near Bajo de Masinloc on May 5, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Philippine Navy's BRP Emilio Jacinto was conducting routine patrols alongside Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Philippine Coast Guard when two Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) frigates with bow numbers 554 and 573, along with a China Coast Guard vessel 5403, engaged in dangerous actions that violated international regulations.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. condemned these maneuvers as 'aggressive and unsafe,' emphasizing the need for preparedness and opposition against such incidents.

These incidents occurred within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, reinforcing territorial claims over Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.

China disputed the Philippine account, accusing Manila's vessel of 'attempting to invade' Beijing's territorial waters and emphasizing its sovereignty over the area. Senator Francis N. Tolentino called on the DFA to file a diplomatic protest against China.