Chinese Warship Challenges PCG Patrol Over Bajo de Masinloc

A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) aircraft was challenged by a Chinese military warship during a routine maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Tuesday, Jan. 20. PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the PCG Islander aircraft monitored at least nine Chinese maritime forces operating in the area during the flight including two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, two People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) warships, and five vessels believed to be part of the Chinese maritime militia. One of the CCG vessels had no visible bow number and was positioned about 84.6 nautical miles west of Capones Island while the other was located 7.8 nautical miles southeast of Bajo de Masinloc. Meanwhile, the PLA-N warships carrying hull numbers “553” and “909” were seen operating southeast of Bajo de Masinloc while the Chinese maritime militia vessels were monitored between 6.16 and 11.82 nautical miles from the shoal. At one point during the MDA flight, the PLA-N 553 warship issued several radio challenges to the PCG aircraft, according to the PCG. In response, the PCG aircrew replied that the mission was a lawful MDA flight conducted in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 Arbitral Award which invalidated China’s claims in the South China Sea, and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act. The crew stressed that the legal instruments affirm the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction in the WPS. “The crew further emphasized the Philippines’ lawful authority to conduct MDA operations within its maritime zones and reminded the PLAN warship that China, as a signatory to UNCLOS, had no legal basis to interfere with legitimate Philippine activities,” Tarriela added. Earlier, the PCG assessed that China had deployed its maritime forces closer to the Philippine coast in 2025 and farther away from Bajo de Masinloc, forcing Filipino fishermen to be confined to smaller areas of their traditional fishing grounds.