BFAR plane over Panatag Shoal gets radio challenges from Chinese Navy

A plane of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) conducting a maritime patrol over the Panatag Shoal in the highly-contested West Philippine Sea received 15 radio challenges from the Chinese Navy.

According to Ian Cruz’s exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, the BFAR plane was just about to get near Panatag Shoal when it received a series of calls from the Chinese military. 

“Philippine aircraft, this is the Chinese Navy warship. Leave immediately and stay away from this area, over,” said the radio transmission. 

To which the pilot of the Philippine aircraft responded:  “China, you are way beyond the 200 nautical mile EEZ of your country! Please review your chart.” 

As Beijing pushes its territorial claims to the Panatag Shoal, the BFAR plane spotted Chinese militia vessels around its vicinity. 

Four vessels were spotted in the north of the shoal. There was another vessel at the island’s opening to the east. 

Meanwhile, three China Coast Guard (CCG) and four Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted near the island. 

One of the CCG ships was spotted making course changes while the Philippine plane was overhead. 

For the lone FIlipino presence in these disputed waters, a mother boat of Filipino fishermen was spotted 35 nautical miles east of Panatag Shoal where the Chinese vessels were absent.

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

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.
—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News