The DFA is preparing to file a diplomatic protest against China following the incident.
The United States deploys the USS Higgins (DDG-76) — an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer — along with USS Cincinnati to Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday two days after the collision of two Chinese vessels that harassed a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.
Photograph courtesy of philippine coast guard
Top Philippine officials have dismissed China’s accusations that the Philippines instigated a recent maritime confrontation near Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc (BdM) as “blatant lies,” as tensions in the disputed waterway continue to escalate with a recent dangerous interception of a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft.
This comes after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Monday blamed the Philippines for a maritime “incident” he claimed was provoked by Filipino forces, saying that the Philippines’ actions “seriously infringed upon China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, and seriously harmed peace and stability at sea.”
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, however, was quick to reject China’s statement.
“They will always say that,” Lazaro said in a briefing.
Meantime, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was even more direct in his response.
“I’m already tired of contradicting... a blatant lie and glorifying it,” Teodoro said. “Everybody knows the truth, really. Why will we pick a fight? ... Who in his or her right mind will initiate a conflict when you are a smaller country? Common sense, unless they don’t have any.”
Teodoro’s comments came after a Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy warship collided with a China Coast Guard vessel while both were allegedly harassing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near the shoal on Monday.
The impact reportedly caused significant damage to the Coast Guard vessel.
The DFA is preparing to file a diplomatic protest against China following the incident, as Lazaro confirmed that while the protest has not yet been officially filed, the department has released a statement condemning the incident and calling for both sides to exercise restraint and adhere to international maritime laws.
She also confirmed that the DFA is “rethinking” whether to summon the Chinese ambassador to Manila over the incident.
When asked about China’s reported displeasure over recent remarks by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Teodoro stood firm, saying China’s sensitivity “goes to show you what kind of people you’re dealing with.”
He stressed that the Philippines is not alone in its concerns about China’s behavior, citing shared challenges with countries like Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and France.
In a separate development, a Chinese J-15 fighter jet “dangerously intercepted” a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft during a Maritime Domain Awareness flight over Scarborough Shoal, according to PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Tarriela noted that the Chinese jet unsafely shadowed the Philippine surveillance plane for more than 20 minutes, maintaining a lateral distance of just 500 feet and flying directly overhead at an altitude of only 200 feet.
Tarriela said the PCG aircraft’s mission was to monitor and ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen in the area. He also noted the presence of two US naval ships, the USS Higgins and USS Cincinnati, in the region, which he said were exercising their navigational rights in line with international law.
The presence of the US Navy vessels, Tarriela added, “challenges the restrictions on innocent passage imposed by China.”
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