PCG patrol in Bajo de Masinloc detects 8 Chinese vessels

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:12 p.m.) — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Sunday that it had monitored the presence of eight Chinese vessels during a patrol earlier this month in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea.

Throughout its nine-day patrol in Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, PCG's BRP Teresa Magbanua detected the presence of four China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels. 

According to the Coast Guard, the CCG vessels shadowed BRP Teresa Magbanua “on more than 40 occasions,” coming as close as 176 meters.

“The CCG vessels performed dangerous and blocking maneuvers at sea against BRP Teresa Magbanua four times, with the CCG vessels crossing the bow of the PCG vessel twice,” PCG said.

It also observed four Chinese maritime militia boats during its patrol.

"BRP Teresa Magbanua professionally engaged the Chinese maritime ships through radio, reiterating the clear and principled position of the Philippines in accordance with international law," the PCG said.

BRP Teresa Magbanua, a 97-meter patrol vessel, was deployed to safeguard Filipino fishermen in the area. The Coast Guard also distributed food packs to over 100 Filipino fishermen operating in Bajo de Masinloc.

"The Coast Guard's white ships will consistently ensure Filipino fishermen's safety and welfare," said Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, commandant of the PCG.

Situated 240 kilometers west of Luzon, Bajo de Masinloc has long been a fishing ground utilized by generations of Filipino fishers.

China, which seized Scarborough Shoal in 2012, deploys vessels to patrol the area. The shoal lies nearly 900 kilometers from the nearest major Chinese landmass of Hainan.

In September last year, the PCG removed a 300–meter floating barrier installed by the CCG to prevent Filipino fishers from accessing Bajo de Masinloc. — with report from Agence France-Presse