Ched Rick Gatchalian

Article (news)

Bad weather linked to decrease in Chinese presence in Bajo de Masinloc — PCG

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A maritime domain awareness flight conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources over Bajo de Masinloc on Wednesday monitored only two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in the vicinity of the shoal.</p><p>Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the reduced Chinese presence was likely due to the rough sea conditions brought by recent typhoons.</p><p>“Ang main reason bakit until now hindi pa rin bumabalik ang usual number ng China Coast Guard vessel deployment sa Bajo de Masinloc is because of the bad weather condition. Yung current sea condition sa BDM, I don’t think the CCG vessels can also withstand such heavy conditions ng alon sa BDM (Bajo de Masinloc),” Tarriela told reporters in a phone interview.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/30/chinese-vessels-fewer-in-west-ph-sea-during-storms-but-remain-afterward-pamc-1315">Chinese vessels fewer in West PH Sea during storms, but remain afterward: PAMC</a></div><p>No People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and Chinese maritime militia vessels were detected during the flight.</p><p>Chinese aircraft did not tail the BFAR plane, unlike in past missions.</p><p>“Nagsimulang bumaba ang bilang ng CCG and even the Chinese maritime militia simula nang magkaroon ng sunud-sunod na bagyo sa Pilipinas,” Tarriela noted.</p><p>“On what is the specific reason bakit walang aircraft na sumunod sa inyo, I cannot really speak for the Chinese government, but I’d like to believe that the bad weather condition is the main reason bakit ang Chinese maritime forces have significantly decreased in BDM,” he added.</p><div><strong> </strong></div><div><strong>CHINESE BUOYS REMAIN</strong></div><p>The two previously spotted buoys installed by Chinese maritime forces remain in position, according to Tarriela.</p><p>“Dalawang buoy pa rin ang nandun—at the northern part of BDM and sa gitna sa loob ng shoal,” he said.</p><p>The official added that the MDA flight did not detect any floating barrier at the entrance to Bajo de Masinloc.</p><p>“What is also worth mentioning is that there is no barrier right now doon sa bukana ng BDM. Wala rin tayong nakitang pagkakaroon ng karagdagang buoy dito,” Tarriela said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/28/chinese-vessels-spotted-anew-inside-ph-eez-during-pcg-s-martime-domain-awareness-flight-1811">Chinese vessels spotted anew inside PH EEZ during PCG’s martime domain awareness flight</a></div><p>Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal, is located 124 nautical miles west of mainland Zambales, well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic (EEZ).</p><p>On the other hand, it is 472 nautical miles from Hainan Province, China’s nearest land mass. The shoal, however, has been under Beijing’s control since 2012.</p><p>The PCG conducts MDA flights with the BFAR to track any new activity in the shoal.</p><p>“We will carry this [MDA flight] out periodically para mas ma-monitor natin ang BDM,” Tarriela said. “Not particularly reclamation. Ang changes like pag-iinstall ng buoy and some other things na pwede nilang gawin—these are the things that we take note and observe at nirereport natin sa National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea and DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs].”</p><p>He continued, “We want to make sure na wala silang drastic changes na gagawin sa BDM.”</p><div> </div><div><strong>SHIP DEPLOYMENTS</strong></div><p>The official noted that PCG vessels earlier took shelter due to bad weather, but added that deployments would resume soon.</p><p>“Ang ating mga barko rin had to take shelter. But itong mga susunod na araw, as the weather permits it, magpapadala na uli si Admiral [Ronnie Gil] Gavan ng karagdagang mga barko sa West Philippine Sea, not just in BDM, but also in the Kalayaan Island Group para ituloy natin ang pagpapaigting ng presensya ng PCG dito,” Tarriela said.</p>

<p>A maritime domain awareness flight over Bajo de Masinloc on Wednesday monitored only two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in the vicinity of the shoal.</p>

A maritime domain awareness flight over Bajo de Masinloc on Wednesday monitored only two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in the vicinity of the shoal.