The Philippine government has issued stern warnings to China as it enforces “red lines” in the West Philippine Sea, vowing to take action if Beijing conducts reclamation activities in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).
This commitment comes amid escalating tensions, with Chinese vessels encroaching closer to Philippine waters.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, confirmed that the military has prepared contingency plans in case China proceeds with reclamation activities in Bajo de Masinloc.
“Yes, there are four red lines given by the government; one of these is the no reclamation on Bajo de Masinloc. The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the Philippine Navy have appropriate contingency plans in place in the event that this is violated,” Trinidad said during a press conference on January 14.
When asked about the potential response if China crossed this “red line”, Trinidad reiterated: “These are red lines. Non-negotiable. We have appropriate contingency plans with the AFP to address that.”
Trinidad emphasized that the AFP will continue performing its mandate of conducting maritime patrols and air surveillance flights.
He said the AFP plans to increase activities with its treaty allies and other partner nations in the country’s maritime territories, including Bajo de Masinloc, Northern Islands, Eastern Seaboard, and the West Philippine Sea.
He added: “For last year, I think we had 10 multilateral maritime activities. We expect more for the year 2025. These are geared towards developing our capabilities and showing us what are the modern technologies that we could be aspiring for.”
Alarming proximity of “monster ship”
Philippine officials have sounded the alarm over Chinese Coast Guard ships moving closer to Philippine shores.
National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya described these movements as intimidation tactics aimed at discouraging Filipino fishermen.
“It’s getting closer to the Philippine coastline… and that is alarming,” Malaya said during the press briefing. He pointed to the deployment of a 165-meter “monster” coast guard vessel, which the Philippine Coast Guard last tracked 143 kilometers west of Capones Island in Zambales province.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, expressed concern over the vessel’s mere presence. “It doesn’t really carry out very aggressive action, but its mere presence is already concerning.”
The PCG deployed BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Gabriela Silang to push the Chinese vessel farther from Zambales.
“The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed 84-meter and 97-meter vessels to pressure the Chinese ship to move further away from the coast of Zambales,” Tarriela noted.
As of January 14 morning, the massive ship was positioned 77 miles west of Capones Island, according to Tarriela.
Calls for withdrawal
The Philippines has formally demanded that China withdraw its “monster ship” from its waters.
Malaya said that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a diplomatic protest, emphasizing the vessel’s presence as “illegal and unacceptable.”
“The Philippine government is alarmed by the presence of the monster ship. And we have made a clear request and demand with the Chinese government to withdraw their ship,” Malaya said.
“Since we have diplomatic mechanisms with (China), we will utilize all of those diplomatic mechanisms. I was told by the DFA that we will raise this matter,” he added.
Despite experiencing a minor mechanical issue, the BRP Teresa Magbanua resumed its operations to block the Chinese ship. “Right now, the Philippine Coast Guard 9701 is back in the game. They’re once again blocking the China Coast Guard 5901,” Tarriela said.
China reiterated claim over disputed waters
China defended its actions in the region through a statement by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who reiterated Beijing’s claim over the disputed waters.
“Let me reiterate that China’s sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history and are solidly grounded in history and the law,” Guo said in a press conference on January 14.
Guo called on the Philippines to cease what he described as provocations. “We call on the Philippines once again to immediately stop all infringement activities, provocations, and false accusations, and stop all its actions that jeopardize peace and stability and complicate the situation in the South China Sea,” he added.
China continues to assert its claims over the West Philippine Sea, ignoring a 2016 international ruling that upheld the Philippines’ rights and invalidated Beijing’s stance.
The South China Sea remains a volatile hotspot, with over $3 trillion worth of commerce passing through the disputed waterway annually. In addition to the Philippines, countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei assert overlapping claims in this critical maritime region.
The Philippines, backed by the 2016 arbitral ruling, continues to challenge Beijing’s expansive claims, while China’s activities signal its refusal to recognize the decision.
This ongoing dispute underscores the growing difficulties in maintaining peace and stability in one of the world’s most significant waterways.
Photo credit: National Security Council Facebook. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (left), National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya (middle), and PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela (right), responded to media queries during a press briefing on the West Philippine Sea on January 14, 2025.