• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DFA 'aware' of US freedom of navigation ops near Scarborough

Philippine News Agency

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
August 13, 2025, 10:34 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday night said it is "aware" of the freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) conducted by the United States near the Bajo de Masinloc.

Bajo de Masinloc, also known as the Scarborough Shoal, is a longstanding and integral part of Philippine territory situated less than 200 nautical miles away from Zambales province.

Citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said certain rights, including the freedom of navigation—even within Philippine waters—are guaranteed to nations.

"The DFA is aware of the FONOPS conducted by US warships in the vicinity waters of Bajo de Masinloc, which is a longstanding and integral part of Philippine territory," she said.

"It should be pointed out that UNCLOS provides certain rights and freedoms of transit — such as innocent passage, freedom of navigation and archipelagic sea lanes passage — in the Philippines' archipelagic waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zone," she added.

Notification, she said, is not required by the Philippines for foreign vessels to exercise these freedoms in Philippine maritime zones, in accordance with international laws, particularly the UNCLOS.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported the sighting of USS Higgins (DDG-76) and USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) approximately 102 nautical miles from Zambales on Wednesday.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the US warships were "exercising navigational rights and freedoms in the West Philippine Sea near the BDM" in accordance with international law.

The US classifies "FONOPs" as an important element of its initiative to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve navigation, overflight, and other rights/freedoms guaranteed to all nations under international law.

The deployment of the US Navy ships comes on the heels of China's dangerous maneuvers against Filipino vessels off the Bajo de Masinloc, resulting in the collision of its own ships on Aug. 11.

Following the incident, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson described the Chinese actions as "reckless." (PNA)