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Security exec: PH unfazed by Chinese aggression in BdM

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
August 14, 2025, 2:22 pm

MANILA -- No amount of aggressive action from China in Bajo de Masinloc (BdM) (also known as Scarborough Shoal) will deter the Philippines from asserting its rights in the vital waterway, National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año said Thursday.

Año, in an interview with reporters, made this comment when asked whether the acts of harassment being conducted by Chinese maritime and air forces against patrolling Philippine ships and aircraft can be considered part of efforts to escalate tensions in Bajo de Masinloc.

"Well sa tingin ko nagi-intensify sila ng kanilang mga actions dyan, siguro using force to intimidate us pero just the same hindi tayo na-intimidate, kasi we are on the right side (in my point of view, they are intensifying their actions, and using force to intimidate us, but despite that, we will not be intimidated)," Año said.

Most noteworthy of China's aggressive actions in the Bajo de Masinloc area include the chase and attempted ramming of a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel and Chinese Coast Guard ship against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)'s BRP Suluan which backfired as the two larger ships collided, causing damage to each other last Aug. 11 and the interception moves of a Chinese J-15 fighter jet against a PCG caravan patrol aircraft on Wednesday.

The Filipino aircraft was conducting a maritime domain awareness flight over Bajo de Masinloc when the incident with the J-15 fighter jet took place.

Despite these aggressive actions, the NSA said that the Philippines will not be deterred in standing up for its sovereignty and sovereign rights as it has "legal and historical rights".

"So kahit anong gawin nila hindi tayo matitinag diyan, pero hindi tayo magpapanimula ng gulo. Kung gumagawa sila ng mga tinatawag nating 'new normal,' yung absence ng kanilang legal and historical basis eh dinadaan nila sa paggagawa ng illegal, aggressive actions (we will not be deterred regardless of what actions they will do there, but we will not be the ones who will start trouble. If they are creating on what we are calling the 'new normal', the absence of legal and historical basis on their side, they are making do with illegal, aggressive actions)," Año said.

When asked if there is a need to tap or make the Armed Forces more active in this area following China's use of its naval vessels and fighter jets in Bajo de Masinloc, Año said that, as much as possible, they don't want the Philippines to be tagged or accused of escalating these incidents.

As of this time, the NSA said the Bajo de Masinloc area is being treated as a "law enforcement" function of the PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

"Yung ating Armed Forces (is) ready to support our law enforcement agencies if needed, (should) there (be), what you call that, change of strategy, that uunahin nating gagamitin yung Armed Forces kasi ang ating Armed Forces ready to defend our country. So, yun ang role nila. For now this is a law enforcement (where the Armed Forces will be used first, because our Armed Forces are ready to defend the country, that is their role. For now this is law enforcement)," he added.

Año also clarified that major policy changes like that emanate directly from the President if needed.

"But as of now, we remain calm. We continue to do our (mandate), especially the PCG and the BFAR, they will continue to do their mandate, especially in protecting and supporting our fishermen and in conducting law enforcement functions within our internal waters and maritime (zones)," he added. (PNA)