MANILA, Philippines – Wala nang bago sa hakbang ng China na magpadala ng naval assets bilang tugon sa Philippine-led maritime cooperative activity (MCA) sa territorial waters ng bansa, sinabi ng isang opisyal ng Philippine Navy (PN).
“For every MCA that we conduct with our partners and allies, there is always the presence, the uninvited presence of the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy. Whether we do this with the US, with European powers, or with Japan,” saad sa pahayag ni PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad sa press briefing nitong Martes, Hunyo 17.
Ani Trinidad, namataan ang mga barko ng PLAN at China Coast Guard sa WPS kabilang ang Bajo de Masinloc, Sabina Shoal, Pag-asa Island, at Ayungin Shoal.
“For every activity we conduct with our partners and allies, there has been a response, a reaction by the PLAN in order to justify their presence, their continued illegal presence in our maritime zones after any MMCA (multilateral maritime cooperative activity) that we do,” giit ni Trinidad.
Idinaos ang ikalawang bilateral MCA sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Japan sa kanluran ng Zambales, o hilagang kanluran ng Occidental Mindoro na pasok sa exclusive economic zone ng bansa.
Para sa exercise na ito, sinabi ni Trinidad na namonitor ang Jiangkai-class frigate (o kilala bilang Type 054A frigate) sa layong 18 nautical miles mula sa lumalahok na Japanese warship na guided missile destroyer JS Takanami (DDG-110).
“Another one was monitored 30 nautical miles further away. The following day, there were two warships and two CCG vessels in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc,” dagdag pa. RNT/JGC
