“Some media reports claim the Scarborough Shoal as ‘Philippine territory’ which is total falsehood. Any country’s territorial sea is only 12 nautical miles from the shoreline”
THE 2nd de-escalation initiative of the BBM administration, articulated by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on June 21, 2024 in reaction to the gigantic fiasco of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro’s personal sub rosa stealth RORE supply mission intercepted by the Chinese Coast Guard, ended in total humiliation of the flabbergasted Philippine government which had no inkling of the arbitrary, underhanded project ordered by the Defense Secretary.
The de-escalation effort was sealed between the two countries with the 9th Meeting of the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism on the South China Sea in Manila on July 2, 2024 where, as the PNA news report headline declared: “PH, China hold dialogue, commit to de-escalate.”
This was followed on July 27, 2024 by the first resupply to Ayungin (Ren’ai Jiao) Shoal hailed and described by many sectors as a “successful mission” where “no untoward incidents” were reported.
Successful, peaceful coordinated activities between the Philippines and China are not welcome in some quarters, like the American Embassy, its “Cold War warriors” personified by the likes of Raymond Powell whose strategy of “assertive transparency” utterly failed, and the American’s Filipino proxies like the defense secretary and some of his pro-American minions.
It was just a matter of time before they attempt to throw a monkey wrench at the de-escalation.
The opportunity came on Aug. 7 and 8 in the midst of a US, Australian, Canada and Philippines joint sea and air exercises over the seas adjacent to the Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) where China had since 2012 established its sovereignty by default of the Philippines withdrawing its navy ships from the shoals during the standoff then.
China since that time has exercised its control of the area without restricting the traditional fishing rights of fisher folks of the vicinity.
On Aug. 7 and 8, a Philippine Air Force plane entered the air space of the Huangyan Dao which was met by People’s Liberation Army Air Force which took “necessary and lawful measures… professional and consistent with Chinese and International Law” including firing flares to alert the PAF plane.
Even anti-China news media ANC interviewing the National Security Council Asst. Director Jonathan Malaya could only say “use of flares… ‘can’ be considered a hostile act,” but not necessarily so.
Philippine Armed Forces Chief Gen. Brawner’s protest alleging “hostile actions” by the Chinese planes is reminiscent of ex-US Air Force Col. Raymond Powell’s strategy of “assertive transparency” doing premeditated provocation and then “crying foul,” like the Feb. 2023 AFP protests about “military laser” blinding resupply crews which could be bought from e-retailer Lazada, and later protests about water cannon use which is actually a normal, non-lethal means to prevent physical contact.
Some media reports claim the Scarborough Shoal as “Philippine territory” which is total falsehood. Any country’s territorial sea is only 12 nautical miles from the shoreline, Scarborough is 135 nautical miles from the shores of Zambales.
(Editor’s Note: As defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Scarborough Shoal is within the EEZ of Manila because it is 120 nautical miles (222km) from the Philippine island of Luzon. In contrast, Scarborough Shoal is about 594 nautical miles (1,100km) from China’s Hainan Island.)
At best, the Philippines can claim EEZ over it but that is disputed by several countries.
China claims sovereignty over the shoals, which is superior to any EEZ claim, aside from the fact the Philippines conceded the shoals to China by default in 2012.
What is pregnant with meaning in the foray of the PAF plane into the air space of what China has established its jurisdiction over is the PAF military aircraft was sent in during and from the joint patrol exercise of the “allies for war” of the US, Australia and Canada (all participants in the Afghan War for example) with the Philippines.
It smacks of a mischievous provocation assigned by the Americans and its deputies using the Little Brown Brother to cause a sensational incident.
Fortunately, the American plot with its Filipino proxies is not working anymore.
People like the peace and quiet on the Ayungin and BRP Sierra Madre front, the “successful RORE mission” will shine as an example of Philippine-China de-escalation and easing of tension, while the dangerous new provocations which Raymond Powell and his little proxies are staging are good for a day’s headline only and nothing more.
The Filipinos want the government to get to work on the economy and stop all the shenanigans. (rpkapunan@gmail.com)
