DFA open to talks with China over Scarborough incident

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said it is open to discussing with its counterparts the dangerous actions China's air force performed in Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

During a hearing on the proposed 2025 budget of the DFA, Secretary Enrique Manalo condemned China’s recent aggression as he reiterated that the shoal is well-within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

“These are lawful flight operations and they did not violate any property or jurisdiction. It was well-within our rights and they entered over our airspace. They had overtaken our airspace,” Manalo told House members. 

The DFA earlier confirmed it filed a diplomatic protest against China in relation to the incident. However, no further details on the protest was provided.

“Ang policy naman natin (Our policy) here in the South China Sea has always been our willingness to settle any disputes through peaceful means and negotiations in accordance to international law. Hindi lang limited sa (This is not limited to) note verbale,” said Manalo.

“If China is willing to speak on these, we are willing to talk..but this particular incident what was really upsetting was the use of flares. We’re open to any discussion,” he added. 

Manalo said the DFA has been conducting regular consultations with China. 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that on August 8, two People's Liberation Army Air Force aircraft performed "dangerous and provocative actions" against a Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircraft over the Scarborough Shoal.

The Chinese aircraft executed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a NC-212i PAF propeller aircraft conducting a routine maritime patrol over the area.

PLA’s Southern Theater Command said the Philippine aircraft, "despite repeated warnings from China, insisted on illegally intruding into the airspace of Huangyan Island," disrupting training activities.

According to the command, China’s naval and air forces carried out identification, tracking, warning, and expulsion in accordance with the law.

"The on-site operation was professional, abided by norms, legitimate, and legal," the PLA said, urging the Philippines to stop what it called infringement and provocation.

Prior to this incident, the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command said on Wednesday it had "organized a joint combat patrol in the sea and air space" near the Scarborough Shoal.

The maneuvers tested "the reconnaissance and early warning, rapid mobility, and joint strike capabilities of theater troops," Beijing said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also condemned the act, describing it as “unjustified, illegal and reckless.”

“The President strongly condemns the air incident in Bajo de Masinloc earlier this week, and stands by our brave men and women of the AFP, especially the Philippine Air Force,” the Presidential Communications Office said.

“The actions of the People’s Liberation Army - Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft were unjustified, illegal and reckless, especially as the PAF aircraft was undertaking a routine maritime security operation in Philippine sovereign airspace,” it added.

Scarborough Shoal is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Scarborough Shoal is also referred to by the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has not recognized the decision.

2025 proposed budget

Meanwhile, the DFA is proposing P27.15 billion budget for next year — higher than its P24.63 billion funding in 2024. Of the amount, 56% or P15.19 billion will be allotted for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE); 36% or P9.79 billion for personnel services, and 8% or P2.18 billion for capital outlay. 

The DFA said the P54.66 million of the MOOE will be allocated for the second year implementation of the Apostille system, and P4.29 billion will be for e-passports.—AOL, GMA Integrated News