The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) today discovered a second yellow floating buoy installed at the northern tip of Bajo de Masinloc Shoal during a routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight conducted this morning. This follows the monitoring of an initial buoy placed in the center of the shoal yesterday, highlighting ongoing activities in the area.
Moreover, the PCG has secured the precise coordinates of a reported structure observed during yesterday’s operations. These coordinates have enabled a thorough review of historical satellite imagery, confirming the presence of structural debris dating back at least two years. This verification underscores that the debris is longstanding and not indicative of recent construction.
Consequently, the PCG’s MDA flight was subjected to aggressive interference by forces from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Immediately following the low-altitude pass of a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter directly beneath the PCG aircraft, a PLA Air Force Shenyang J-16 fighter jet was deployed to harass and endanger the safe flight path. Such actions pose a clear and unacceptable risk to the safety of PCG personnel and the journalists embedded on the mission.
In the face of such aggressive actions, the PCG remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold international law and safeguard maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.
