More PH aircraft sent to WPS after China chopper's ‘dangerous’ move —PCG

More aircraft from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were deployed to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after the “dangerous” move of a Chinese military chopper over Bajo de Masinloc recently, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight was conducted over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) Thursday morning.

“In response to recent aggressive maneuvers by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the BFAR and the PCG conducted a maritime domain awareness flight over the KIG in the WPS this morning,” he said.

“The MDA flight was executed using two BFAR aircraft, departing from Puerto Princesa,” he added.

During the operation, the aircraft spotted a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel with bow number 5101 and over fifty Chinese maritime militia vessels in Pagasa Island, as well as six Chinese maritime militia vessels in Rozul Reef.

The BFAR aircraft consistently challenged the illegal presence of the Chinese vessels and documented their unlawful activities, according to Tarriela.

“Undeterred by provocations from the People's Republic of China, BFAR and PCG remain resolute in maintaining our presence in the WPS and confronting the illegal activities of foreign vessels,” Tarriela said.

“BFAR and PCG reaffirm our unwavering commitment to upholding the Philippines’ sovereignty and ensuring the safety and security of the nation’s maritime domain, despite the unprofessional and dangerous behavior exhibited by Chinese maritime forces,” he added.

Chinese Embassy side

Asked about the presence of the Chinese vessels, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said “the activities of the Chinese people in the South China Sea date back to over 2,000 years ago.”

“China is the first to have discovered, named, and explored and exploited Nanhai Zhudao (South China Sea islands) and relevant waters, and the first to have exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them continuously, peacefully and effectively, thus establishing territorial sovereignty and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea," it added.

On Tuesday, the PCG reported that the PLAN helicopter with tail number 68 approached the BFAR aircraft as close as three meters during an MDA flight over Bajo de Masinloc.

Tarriela on Wednesday said this was the “most dangerous” action of the Chinese military so far.

In a statement, the PLA Southern Theater Command said the Philippines was spreading "false narratives" as regards the incident.

"On February 18, a Philippine C-208 reconnaissance aircraft illegally intruded into China's territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao without permission of the Chinese government. Moreover, the Philippine side spread false narratives by talking black into white," spokesperson Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli said.

The Philippines is set to file a diplomatic protest over the incident.

Tensions continue as 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.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the 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 refused to recognize the decision.—Joviland Rita/AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News