The Chinese Coast Guard, aided by two maritime militia vessels, has reinstalled floating barriers around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal to block Filipino fishermen from entering the area, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on March 25.

Scarborough Shoal, located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, falls within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said the barriers were placed on March 24 morning while 26 Filipino fishing boats operated nearby. He confirmed that the PCG immediately reported the incident to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“If we increase our patrols, we will encounter more challenges from China,” Tarriela said, emphasizing that the PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will continue to strengthen their presence to protect Filipino fishermen.

He added that four BFAR vessels and two PCG vessels are currently securing the area. “As of now, there are no reports of harassment by the China Coast Guard,” Tarriela noted.

He also confirmed the presence of five Chinese Coast Guard vessels nearby but said they have not exhibited aggressive behavior. To bolster maritime patrols, he revealed that five new 97-meter PCG vessels are under construction in Japan.

Malacañang defers to security agencies

Malacañang Palace, the presidential office, expressed full confidence in the PCG and the Department of National Defense (DND) to handle the situation.

“We already spoke with Commodore Tarriela, and we cannot expose whatever operation they will undertake. But we trust the decision of the Coast Guard and the DND regarding this,” said Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.

In 2023, the China Coast Guard installed a 300-meter floating barrier in Scarborough Shoal, reportedly deploying it whenever a large number of Filipino fishermen was detected.

The PCG later removed the “dangerous” barrier after Filipino fishermen reported its presence, acting on the instructions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who also heads the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

When asked whether President Marcos would again order the removal of the floating barriers — as he did in 2023 — Castro said no such directive had been issued.

“We have not heard of such a plan. Let us wait for the possible report on this and what will be the action of the agencies mentioned,” she said.

The Philippine military also assured its readiness to assist if needed.

“In the event that assistance is required, the Philippine Navy, the Air Force, and the entire Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) will be ready to respond,” said Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, during a regular press briefing.

Navy prepares to occupy two Subic islands

Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy is preparing to take over Grande and Chiquita Islands at the mouth of Subic Bay once a presidential proclamation officially declares them as military reservations.

“The thrust right now of the Philippine Navy is to prepare for the eventual occupation or preparation of the land that will be awarded through a presidential proclamation,” Trinidad said.

Grande Island, a 44-hectare landmass near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), offers a clear view of key sea lanes in the West Philippine Sea. The DND considers it a “strategic vantage point” crucial for increasing maritime presence in the area.

Trinidad also clarified that the plan to declare the islands as military reservations is unrelated to the recent arrests on Grande Island.

On March 19, law enforcement officers arrested six foreign nationals and two Filipinos for alleged espionage and kidnapping activities tied to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations.

“They were there before the news reports on the planned naval reservation of parts of Subic Bay,” Trinidad said.

Among those arrested was Chinese national Ye Tianwu (Qiu Feng), who was wanted for violating the Securities Regulation Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Defense officials believe the suspects may have used private business operations as a front for espionage and kidnapping.

Strategic presence on western seaboard

The planned military conversion aligns with the ongoing development of a naval operating base aimed at strengthening the Philippines’ strategic presence along the western seaboard.

Trinidad stressed the importance of maintaining a foothold in Subic Bay. He underscored the islands’ strategic value due to their proximity to the bay, whose natural layout provides safe harbor for Navy ships using the critical waterway.

He added that the existing runway allows aircraft operations, further underscoring the need for a military presence.

For its part, the DND said converting Grande and Chiquita Islands into military reservations would help secure commercial operations in the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, including Riviera Wharf and Subic Bay International Airport.

Photo credit: Philippine Coast Guard. China reinstalled floating barriers in Scarborough Shoal to block Filipino fishermen, the Philippine Coast Guard reported.