The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has denounced China’s recent actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), calling out the country’s military conduct as “illegal” and “coercive.”
“The AFP asserts that the People’s Liberation Army-Navy’s illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions in the West Philippine Sea must stop,” AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a statement on Wednesday.
In a “reckless maneuver,” a PLA-Navy Harbin Z-9 helicopter flew perilously close to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft over Scarborough Shoal, endangering the lives of crew on board on February 18.
“This is a blatant disregard for internationally-accepted norms on good airmanship and flight safety,” Padilla declared.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy Spokesperson for the WPS, said the Philippine Navy and AFP, on the other hand, will not counter China’s aggression with likewise illegal and coercive actions.
“The actions of the PN and the entire AFP will always be (within) the bounds of domestic and international law,” Trinidad stated. “While we do not control the actions of the militaries of other claimant countries esp the PLA-N, we will not be drawn into illegal and coercive actions as we perform our mandate.”
He added that, in keeping with the principles of a “modern AFP,” the military vows to show professionalism in its conduct.
Moreover, Padilla promised that the AFP will remain committed to preserving the country’s sovereignty and protecting its people.
“The AFP, together with national maritime agencies will continue to conduct lawful maritime operations to safeguard our territorial integrity and protect our people,” she said.
The Philippines will be filing a diplomatic protest against this “grave” incident, announced the National Maritime Council on Wednesday, February 19.
