PCG: Rotational deployment in Bajo de Masinloc ‘not meant to provoke’

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday maintained that it did not mean to "provoke anybody" as the country decided to hold rotational deployment in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea. 

“Our objective here is to protect the Filipino fishermen. To make sure na ang mga Pilipinong mangingisda ay makakapangisda sa Bajo de Masinloc (To make sure that Filipino fisherfolk can continue fishing at the Bajo de Masinloc),” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

“Ang objective natin dito is not to provoke anybody, not to escalate the tension in Bajo de Masinloc,” Tarriela said.

On Friday, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año announced that the government directed the PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to deploy their vessels for rotational deployment on the traditional fishing ground aimed at ensuring food security in the country. 

This was echoed by Tarriela, saying that the presence of government vessels “will see to it that Filipino fishermen will be able to continue to fish in the area to support our food security.”

The PCG official also emphasized that the rotational deployment of government vessels is “here to stay.”

China's claim

The Philippines' rotational deployment in Bajo de Masinloc comes amid rising tension between China and the Philippines.

China claims most of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Tarriela, however, says the rotational delpoyment has nothing to do with this.

“Whether we began more active rotational deployment in Bajo de Masinloc or whether we are not deploying our own vessels in Bajo de Masinloc, there are always China Coast Guard vessels in those areas,” Tarriela said.

“Bakit natin ito ginagawa ito ngayon? (Why are we doing this?) Are we provoking China? Are we escalating it? I don’t think so,” the PCG official said.

During its latest patrol, the PCG monitored eight Chinese vessels that shadowed and engaged local vessels.

Año earlier denied the claims of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) that it expelled PCG and BFAR vessels in the area as he reaffirmed the Philippines' sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc.

In recent months, China and the Philippines have traded accusations over a series of incidents in the West Philippine Sea.

That's despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated China's claim in a ruling on a case brought by the Philippines.

Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling.

But in January, the Philippines and China sought to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea.

Both sides agreed to improve an existing maritime communication mechanism to prevent incidents and miscalculations in the disputed waters. —VAL, GMA Integrated News