By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
The Philippines will not allow even a portion of Bajo de Masinloc (BdM) to fall under foreign control, a Philippine Navy (PN) official said Tuesday, amid plans by China to establish a nature reserve in the area.
PN Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, “What the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) shares with our national leadership [is] that we will not give up one square inch [of Philippine territory].”
He added, echoing an earlier statement by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., “Rest assured that we have the appropriate actions ready to ensure that we could institute the command guidance of the Commander-in-Chief. The integrity of the national territory is paramount.”
The Chinese government publicized last week its State Council’s “approval” of the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources’ request to establish the reserve in Bajo de Masinloc, which it plans to call the Huangyan Dao National Nature Reserve.
Bajo de Masinloc is a longstanding and integral part of the Philippines. Trinidad said China’s plan is meant to justify its “false [and] illegal presence” within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
He said, adding that such claims have no basis in international law and are not accepted by the international community, “This recent pronouncement of the nature reserve is part of their malign influence to shape public perceptions and again justify their illegal presence.”
The Navy official also said there will be no letup in the conduct of maritime patrols and air surveillance flights “to ensure that [Bajo de Masinloc] will remain ours.”
Trinidad meanwhile assured the AFP is constantly monitoring the country’s maritime domain, “The international community has been one in supporting the AFP in the conduct of actions to ensure that international law will remain steadfast in the WPS.”
The Navy Spokesperson for WPS also dismissed allegations that the Philippines is being used as “proxy” by other nations during the conduct of multilateral maritime cooperative activities.
He concluded his remarks, “We are not acting as the proxy of any foreign power or foreign powers. All of the activities that we are doing are in furtherance of all the defense establishments, all of the defense alliances established by DND (Department of National Defense) with partner nations. This is to improve the capability of the Armed Forces. Again, we are not the proxy of any foreign power.” (PNA)
