Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of Philippine territory. Under the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and UNCLOS, it has a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea and a contiguous zone extending to 24 nautical miles. This is reflected in the official nautical chart the Philippines deposited with the United Nations in July. The waters beyond fall within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. The CCG personnel stationed there are operating in waters that do not belong to China. Their use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Filipino fishermen and Philippine government vessels is not law enforcement. It is coercion meant to impose an illegal claim.
It is unfortunate that China’s own personnel bear the cost of this policy. On 11 August 2025, CCG 3104 collided with a PLA Navy destroyer while aggressively pursuing BRP Suluan. Beijing kept silent for a year before acknowledging that two of its coast guard officers, aged 21 and 25, lost their lives, and then honored them as “martyrs.”
We sympathize with their families. But these young officers were not lost defending sovereignty. They were sacrificed to a reckless and unlawful policy. No flag-raising ceremony can conceal that truth.
