Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal has warned that recent incidents involving Chinese navy and coast guard ships at Bajo de Masinloc appeared to be calculated moves to intimidate Filipino crews and test the resolve of the Philippines.
In an interview with Balitanghali on Tuesday, Batongbacal suggested that Beijing may be gauging President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s earlier statement that the Philippines would activate its Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States if a Filipino were killed in the West Philippine Sea.
“Isa yan sa mga malamang tinitignan nila kung totoo nga tine-testing nila. Pero mas malaki pang intensyon nila ay talagang takutin tayo,” Batongbacal said, adding that China might believe such a fatality would scare the Philippines into backing away from the disputed area.
The remarks came after a China Coast Guard vessel and a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship collided while pursuing the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Suluan off Bajo de Masinloc on Monday. Batongbacal noted the PLAN vessel’s actions inadvertently caused damage to their own coast guard ship, underscoring the recklessness of the maneuver.
He argued the incident reflects “deliberate aggression” meant to “make an example” out of Philippine vessels, while pointing out that Chinese ships are operating almost 1,000 kilometers from their own territory. “Malinaw na talagang sila ang may kasalanan dito,” he stressed.
Batongbacal also said the presence of PLAN vessels in the area must be closely monitored to determine if it will become a permanent deployment. He emphasized that the Philippines has been asserting its rights peacefully, without ramming or threatening Chinese vessels.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with territories of several Southeast Asian nations. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, a decision Beijing has refused to recognize.
