WPS Heat Check: Manila Tells Beijing to Back Off at Sea

The Philippine government on Thursday raised the pressure on Beijing, calling on China to pull its vessels out of the West Philippine Sea and stop what Manila described as illegal, provocative, and dangerous actions. The statement came after a string of March incidents involving Chinese maritime forces and Philippine ships, aircraft, and fisherfolk.

The National Maritime Council listed several encounters that it said crossed the line. These included a Chinese warship directing fire-control radar at BRP Miguel Malvar near Escoda Shoal on March 7, harassment of Filipino fisherfolk at Bajo de Masinloc on March 17, and a March 20 incident in which a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft encountered flares near Panganiban Reef.

The council also pointed to a dangerous maneuver against a BFAR vessel at Paredes Reef on March 20 and another unsafe move by a Chinese navy vessel near Pag-asa Island on March 26. According to Manila, these were not random close calls but part of a pattern that endangered lives and challenged Philippine operations in waters where it says it has sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

Officials stressed that Philippine patrols and resupply or monitoring missions in those areas are lawful under UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling. China, meanwhile, continues to reject that ruling, kaya tuloy ang banggaan ng legal position at actions on the water.

The timing is also sensitive because Manila and Beijing had just held diplomatic meetings in Quanzhou and were discussing ways to improve communication, including possible confidence-building steps and even initial exchanges on oil and gas cooperation. Pero kahit may reset talk, the Philippines made it clear that repeated dangerous encounters at sea are still a red line.

Source: Rappler