Año: China ‘overhyping anew’ Phl legal ops in Bajo de Masinloc

National Security adviser Eduardo Año on Tuesday dismissed China's "overhyping" claims over the Philippines' entry to the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), which in fact "part of the country's exclusive economic zone" within the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, Año slammed the Chinese vessels' usual shadowing actions against the Philippine vessels, conducting legal maritime operations in the WPS, this time with the Philippine Navy's BRP Conrado Yap (PS39).

"China is again overhyping this incident and creating unnecessary tensions between our two nations," he said.

Año emphasized that the Philippines has the right to operate in the Scarborough Shoal—countering Beijing's trespassing accusation against Filipino warship entering "into the waters adjacent to China's Huangyan Dao without the approval of the Chinese government on Monday."

The national security adviser responded that "under international law, the Philippines has every right to patrol the length and breadth of the West Philippine Sea which necessarily includes Bajo de Masinloc."

Año said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard will not be deterred by the "aggressive and illegal activities" of either China's People Liberation Army Navy, China Coast Guard, or Chinese Maritime Militia in the WPS.

"PS39 conducted routine patrol operations in the general vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc without any untoward incident. It did not illegally enter any space under Chinese sovereignty because Bajo de Masinloc is part of the Philippine archipelago and EEZ," he stressed.

Año urged China "to act responsibly, respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and adhere to the 2016 arbitral ruling in favor of the Philippines over its claim on the WPS as well as promote the rules-based international order."

He called on China to "stop its aggressive and illegal actions in the Philippine waters."

"Following the strong guidance of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., we will protect our territory and sovereign rights at all costs," Año noted.

Meanwhile, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar backed Año's statement that the Philippines did not illegally enter the Bajo de Masinloc.

"An illegal occupant cannot prevent the legitimate owner from entering his house and backyard," Aguilar told reporters in a Viber message.

The Philippine officials have repeatedly emphasized that the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles east of Zambales, lying within the Philippine archipelago.