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PH, China exchange radio challenges near Panata Island

The Philippines and China exchanged radio challenges on Friday near Panata Island in the West Philippine Sea. According to a ''24 Oras'' report by Chino Gaston on Friday, BRP Andres Bonifacio detected a Jiangkai class frigate (bow number 525) and two militia vessels before 8 a.m. while on a maritime patrol. The Philippine Navy vessel issued a radio challenge, which was not immediately answered by the Chinese side. They were within 4.6 nautical miles of the Chinese ship. 'We conducted the standard radio challenge within the territorial waters of Panata Island. They counter-challenged, and we counter-challenged that Panata Island and KIG (Kalayaan Island Group) are part of the Philippines. Once we issued our radio challenge, they immediately changed their course, going to Subi Reef,' said BRP Andres Bonifacio commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Christian Malabanan. Malabanan added it was critical to follow the rules of engagement in line with government policies to prevent violent confrontations. 'One action of the tactical units, which is kami po, is we'll escalate or de-escalate a certain situation. So, kung ano po yung binigay sa amin ng ROE (rules of engagement), stick po kami doon, and if ano yung general [instruction] ng government natin, yung po yung sinusunod namin. Although yung pressure na dyan, sir… We are trained to have a decision na mag-conduct ng in-line to avoid any action na magiging detrimental naman po sa government namin,' he said. (One action of the tactical units, which is us, is we'll escalate or de-escalate a certain situation. So, whatever the ROE gives us, we will stick with it, and whatever the general [instruction] of the government is, that is what we follow. Although, the pressure is there… We are trained to have a decision to avoid any action that will be detrimental to the government.) Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including parts that fall within Manila's exclusive economic zone. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims, but Beijing has not recognized the decision. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News