Latest news with #PLAN164
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DFA: PH no responsibility over collision between PLAN, CCG in Bajo de Masinloc
China Coast Guard vessel 3104, which was chasing the BRP Suluan of the Philippine Coast Guard near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, collides with People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) ship 164 of China on Monday, August 11, 2025. Screenshot from PCG video The Philippines bears no responsibility for the collision between the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday. "The PHL bears no responsibility for the collision between the PLAN vessel and the CCG vessel in Bajo de Masinloc. It was an unfortunate outcome, but not one caused by our actions,'' Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said in a statement. The DFA earlier expressed serious concern over "dangerous" maneuvers by China against Philippine ships in the region last Monday. Manila denounced Beijing's use of force against the Philippine vessels near the shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal, a U-shaped rocky outcrop teeming with marine resources in the West Philippine Sea 124 nautical miles off Zambales. The flagpole of the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) BRP Suluan was also bent after getting hit by a warship of the PLAN during the incident. The PCG vessel sustained the damage when PLAN 164 had a collision with China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104 as the two Chinese ships chased the Philippine vessel. The PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were on a mission to distribute aid to local fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) as part of the Kadiwa program. Despite the harassment, the PCG said it immediately offered support, including assistance with man-overboard recovery and medical aid for any injured CCG crew members. The Philippine government, meanwhile, reiterated its demand to China ''for compensation for the damage caused to vessels and equipment last June 17 2024, as well as the return of its firearms and equipment, and the personal effects of its personnel that were illegally seized on that date." — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
AFP chief slams China for deploying warship to Scarborough Shoal
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday accused China of violating a 2012 agreement by sending a warship to Scarborough Shoal. Brawner recalled the standoff 13 years ago when both countries agreed to withdraw their naval vessels from the disputed area. 'Hindi ba nagkaroon po ng standoff noong 2012, kung maalala ninyo. Ang usapan is aalis ang Philippine Navy at Chinese Navy. Tayo, umalis tayo. Sumunod tayo sa usapan,' Brawner said in an ambush interview. 'Hindi sila sumunod. So it's really a violation of the agreement that we had in 2012,' he added. Brawner noted that while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the AFP to maintain the 'moral high ground' and avoid aggressive tactics, the presence of a Chinese warship marks a different level of provocation. The AFP is set to meet with Marcos and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to discuss possible responses, including a joint sail with other countries or deploying a Philippine warship to the shoal. The latest tensions follow Monday's incident when Chinese vessels allegedly harassed Philippine ships during a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and PCG mission to distribute aid to local fishermen. The PCG reported that China's navy ship PLAN 164 and Coast Guard vessel 3104 collided while pursuing BRP Suluan, damaging both Chinese and Philippine ships. China's Foreign Ministry reiterated its claim over Scarborough Shoal, which lies 124 nautical miles off Zambales and within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, and urged Manila to 'stop the infringement and provocative activities.' Scarborough Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc, has been under increased Chinese control since the 2012 standoff. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring Beijing's expansive South China Sea claims baseless, a ruling China has refused to recognize.
GMA Network
7 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH chose to help China despite latest WPS incident — Palace
China Coast Guard vessel 3104, which was chasing the BRP Suluan of the Philippine Coast Guard near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, collides with People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) ship 164 of China on Monday, August 11, 2025. Screenshot from PCG video Malacañang pointed out Tuesday out that Philippine forces chose to help Chinese personnel despite the recent harassment near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). ''Unang-una po, mapapakita natin kung gaano ba ka-strong leader ang ating Pangulo pagdating po sa ganiyang issue. Unang-una po sa nagbanggaan na dalawang Chinese vessels, makikita ninyo po kung papaano ba mamuno ang ating Pangulo dahil kahit na tayo iyong hinahabol ng Chinese vessels ang Philippine Coast Guard, pero ninais pa rin nilang tumulong at magbigay ng ayuda or medical assistance kung kinakailangan ng mga nakasakay sa Chinese vessels na nagbanggaan,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a briefing. (First of all, we can showcase how strong of a leader our President is. When the two Chinese vessels had a collision, the PCG chose to extend assistance even though our own vessel was targeted by the Chinese forces.) ''So, diyan natin makikita na kahit na pakiramdam natin ay tayo iyong naha-harass pero makakatulong pa rin ang mga Pilipino sa oras ng kagipitan,'' the Palace official added. (We can see that even though we are harassed, we can still extend help in times of need.) The flagpole of the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) BRP Suluan was bent after getting hit by a warship of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China during the incident on Monday. The PCG vessel sustained the damage when PLAN 164 had a collision with China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104 as the two Chinese ships chased the Philippine vessel. The PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were on a mission to distribute aid to local fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) as part of the Kadiwa program. Following the collision, the PCG said it immediately offered support, including assistance with man-overboard recovery and medical aid for any injured CCG crew members. On the other hand, the MRRV 9701 safely escorted the Filipino fishermen to a secure location, the PCG added. Castro reiterated the statement of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. that the Philippine forces would never back out despite the latest harassment from China. ''Sinabi rin ng Pangulo na wala siyang ibibigay na panibagong instruction kundi mananatili pa rin ang pagprotekta sa karapatan ng Pilipinas, sa teritoryo at sa sovereign rights at maritime rights ng Pilipinas,'' Marcos said. (The President said he would not issue a new directive as protecting the Philippines sovereign and maritime rights would remain.) ''At mananatili po tayo doon kung ano po iyong dating ginagawa, patuloy pa rin pong gagawin ng Philippine Coast Guard [ang] pagtulong sa mga mangingisda at pagprotekta sa ating maritime rights,'' he added. (We will continue what we are doing and the Philippine Coast Guard will also continue helping our fishermen and protecting our maritime rights.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
12-08-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH vessel's flagpole hit by Chinese warship in Bajo de Masinloc
The flagpole of the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) BRP Suluan was bent after getting hit by a warship of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China during an incident near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Monday. According to a report of GMA Integrated News' Raffy Tima Tuesday, the PCG vessel sustained the damage when PLAN 164 had a collision with China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104 as the two Chinese ships chased the Philippine vessel. The PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were on a mission on Monday to distribute aid to local fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) as part of the Kadiwa program. However, several Chinese vessels harassed Philippine vessels by using water cannon, performing dangerous maneuvers, and shadowing. The PLAN 164 also issued a radio challenge to a PCG aircraft heading toward Bajo de Masinloc for a patrol mission, according to a report of GMA Integrated News' Jonathan Andal on Unang Balita. "This is Chinese Navy are approaching China's territorial airspace. Follow due course and keep away to avoid misunderstanding,' the Chinese warship crew said as heard over PCG's radio. In response, the PCG aircraft told PLAN 164, 'This is Philippine Coast Guard BN-2 do not possess legal authority to patrol within the Philippine exclusive economic zone." A Chinese chopper was also seen flying around the area. Interviewed on Unang Balita on Tuesday morning, PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said PLAN was still spotted in Bajo de Masinloc. However, Tarriela said the PCG could not detect the CCG 3104, which was damaged after a collision with the Chinese warship. The PCG's BRP Teresa Magbanua is still deployed in Bajo de Masinloc while BRP Suluan has already left the area Tuesday morning, according to Tarriela. President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday said Philippine assets would never back out. ''We have never instructed any of our vessels to back out,'' Marcos said at a press briefing. ''Never, never. But we have to always – we do not back out because natakot tayo, umatras tayo. Alam mo, I don't know about other places, pero dito sa – dito sa gobyernong ito, hindi tayo umaatras sa laban (We do not back out just because we are scared. In this government, we will not back out.),'' he added. ''We don't – we don't… We are brave. Filipinos are brave,'' the President said. Marcos said the country's uniformed personnel have been doing their duty and mission of defending the Philippines, noting that ''we will not stop doing it.'' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Monday stressed China's claim to the WPS, saying that it had to do what was 'necessary to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law.' 'The Philippines' moves seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and rights and interests, and seriously harmed peace and stability at sea. These moves are of a malign nature,' the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. 'China urges the Philippines to stop the infringement and provocative activities at once and refrain from challenging China's firm resolve to safeguard our lawful rights and interests,' he added. Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It is also referred to as Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal. 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. —KG, GMA Integrated News
