MANILA, Philippines – Kinumpirma ng Philippine Navy na dalawang barkong pandigma ng China ang namataan 40 nautical miles timog-silangan ng Bajo de Masinloc habang isinasagawa ang Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity noong Setyembre 2–3 kasama ang US, Canada, at Australia.
Ayon kay Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, isang Luyang-class destroyer at isang Jiangkai-class frigate ang sumunod sa international task group ngunit hindi nakibahagi sa anumang joint patrol, taliwas sa pahayag ng China.
“These ships were monitored during the conduct of the 10th MMCA (Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity) involving the US Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Australian Navy and the PN,” ani Trinidad said, na tumutukoy sa naval excercises na isinagawa noong Sept. 2 at 3 sa Zambales.
“They were observed following the international task group and were not conducting any surface serials or synchronized movement that would generally indicate a joint patrol contrary to publications by the Southern Theater Command,” dagdag pa ni Trinidad.
Tinawag niya ang mga mensaheng ito ng Beijing na bahagi ng “malign influence operations” upang bigyang-katwiran ang kanilang iligal na presensya sa loob ng exclusive economic zone ng Pilipinas.
Matatagpuan ang Bajo de Masinloc, o Scarborough Shoal, 124 nautical miles mula Zambales at sakop ng 200-nautical-mile EEZ ng bansa. Santi Celario
