Chinese coast guard helicopter patrolling Kalayaan

MANILA, Philippines - A Chinese Coast Guard helicopter was hovering over waters off Kalayaan in Pag-asa Island, the most remote town of Palawan in the Spratlys.

That’s the eyewitness account of student volunteers of Kalayaan Atin Ito (KAI) upon their return to mainland Palawan the other day from their seven-day Freedom Voyage to Pag-asa.

“While at Pag-asa island, the seat of our Kalayaan municipality, everyday Chinese Coast Guard patrol ship with bow number 46708 patrolled the shores of our island inside the 12 nautical miles (of our) territorial waters,” a student volunteer said.

Leading the volunteers was former Marine captain Nicanor Faeldon.

However, Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez said the presence of the Chinese Coast Guard within the 12-nautical mile waters off Kalayaan town is a given, considering the Chinese  occupation of nearby Zamora (Subi) Reef, just 12 nautical miles from Pag-asa.

Lopez said the student-volunteers could have seen the Chinese white ships.

“It is not surprising to us,” he said. “We have been seeing and monitoring patrols by Chinese Coast Guard vessel and even in some incidences a Chinese Navy (warship) will suddenly appear,” he said.

However, Lopez said he has yet to receive an official report on  the KAI claim that China is now using a Coast Guard helicopter to patrol near Pag-asa Island.

The student volunteers said they will be presenting video recordings of a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and helicopter patrolling the island town’s maritime and territorial domain.

“Once we have been settled, we will present a more detailed report supported by pictures, videos and illustrations,” they said.

Pag-asa Island is just 12 nautical miles from the Chinese-occupied Zamora Reef, an obscure maritime feature that Beijing has transformed into an artificial island now teeming with infrastructure development.

The man-made island is host to one of the military airfields that China has constructed over several   artificial islands, including the one on Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef.

“We are losing to China the heart of the Kalayaan Island Group through their triangle militarized zone from Kagitingan to Zamora and Panganiban (Mischief) reefs,” the Freedom Voyagers said in their post.

Over at Panganiban Reef, China is also building an airfield that will enhance its long-range plan to fully enforce a triangle defense zone over the entire Spratlys.

Local and foreign security observers have warned that China is planning to establish a triangle defense zone over the Spratlys through naval and air facilities out of the Kagitingan-Subi-Panganiban reefs.

Former national security adviser Roilo Golez said   China’s illegal reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea form part of its first island defense chain to control the entire area in pursuit of its main objective of establishing a second island defense chain in the East China Sea toward the Pacific.

Diplomatic protest

The Philippines intends to file a diplomatic protest against China for making a test flight over Kagitingan Reef, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Spokesman Charles Jose said Kagitingan Reef is part of the Kalayaan Island Group, which is Philippine territory.

“We intend to file a protest in due course,”  he said. “We will be handing them our diplomatic protest once finalized.”

The Philippines also accused China of raising tensions anew in the West Philippine Sea. 

Vietnam said China’s action is a serious infringement on the sovereignty of Vietnam on the Spratlys and asked China not to repeat the flight.

Japan also expressed concern over China’s test flight on a newly built airfield on reclaimed land. 

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said such acts “don’t contribute to the peaceful settlement of the dispute” and “should be  avoided.”

Rejecting Vietnam’s protest, China said the area is part of its territory.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the flight is to test whether the airfield facilities can meet civil aviation standards.

“China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters,” Hua said. “China will not accept the unfounded accusation from the Vietnamese side.” 

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Philippine case had been brought before the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the arbitral tribunal was studying its merits after affirming jurisdiction. 

“We are studying the ramifications of the most recent incident in Kagitingan Reef,” he said. – Jaime Laude, Pia Lee-Brago, Aurea Calica