MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na bagama’t may presensya ng mga barko ng China sa paligid ng Bajo de Masinloc sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), wala umanong indikasyon na nagsasagawa ang mga ito ng tactical exercises o military drills.
Ayon kay AFP spokesperson para sa WPS na si Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, natukoy ng kanilang maritime domain monitoring na hindi totoo ang pahayag ng China tungkol sa umano’y coordinated military exercises sa lugar.
“The AFP has monitored the reported presence of PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) and CCG (China Coast Guard) vessels in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc. Our coordinated maritime domain awareness confirms that their claims of coordinated military drills are completely unfounded,” ani Trinidad.
Dagdag niya, ang aktuwal na obserbasyon ng AFP ay magkakahiwalay lamang na operasyon ng mga barko ng China at wala umanong organisadong galaw, tactical maneuvers, o joint formations na maituturing na military exercise.
“What our forces actually observed on the ground was merely a scattered presence of Chinese vessels operating independently. There was absolutely no monitored organized movement, tactical maneuvers or joint formations involving their ships or aircraft that would constitute a military exercise,” dagdag pa niya.
Patuloy ang pagbabantay ng AFP sa maritime domain ng bansa at pinapayuhan ang publiko na maging mapanuri sa mga pahayag na maaaring propaganda lamang. RNT/MND
