By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – Chinese maritime forces are “under pressure” to prevent Philippine vessels from entering Bajo de Masinloc (BdM) following the collision of its two ships in the area last month, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año said Thursday.
In an interview in Makati City, Año said the incident, which reportedly resulted in the death of two Chinese personnel, “brought a lot of shame” to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG).
“I think they are actually under pressure to prevent our vessels from coming into the shoal because they have a lot of explaining to do back home in Beijing,” he said.
On Aug. 11, two Chinese vessels collided while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel that was part of a group performing routine humanitarian operations for Filipino fisherfolk in Bajo de Masinloc.
China has not yet confirmed the fatalities, he said.
“The Chinese are not confirming it, but what we heard from reports, at least two were confirmed dead and, I think, there’s still one missing,” he said.
“It’s up (to) the Chinese authorities to confirm the exact number of their casualties.”
The incident, however, had the Chinese government questioning the capability and competence of the CCG and the PLAN, Año said.
“They (CCG and PLAN) are reeling still from that embarrassment, and so they’re trying to do things that would prevent at all costs our vessels to come into the shoal,” he said, adding that such move by China will not deter the Philippines from maintaining its presence in Bajo de Masinloc, which is also called Scarborough Shoal.
“We will be there. That’s the order of the President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.). We will not back down. We will continue to be there,” he said. (PNA)
