Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

China

Jeff Caparas

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754980780489cropped-photo-collage.png.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The AFP chief rejected Beijing’s claims that the Philippines was provoking tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/Jay Tarriela, PCG/File</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA<strong> (UPDATE)</strong> — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday slammed China’s “aggressive tactics” following an incident in the West Philippine Sea where two Chinese vessels reportedly rammed each other near Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/12/pcg-lauds-bravery-of-crew-in-latest-encounter-with-china-ships-1217">PCG lauds &#x27;bravery&#x27; of crew in latest encounter with China ships in West PH Sea</a></div><p>“Kitang-kita doon &#x27;yung aggressive na tactics ng China. Ang assessment natin doon ay &#x27;yung PLA Navy ship ay talagang ang pakay niya, ang objective niya ay i-ram &#x27;yung ating Philippine Coast Guard. &#x27;Yun din ang assessment ng ating Philippine Coast Guard. So, mabuti na lang at mabilis &#x27;yung ating Coast Guard, naiwasan niya &#x27;yung PLA Navy at &#x27;yung Chinese Coast Guard,” said Brawner.</p><p>According to the AFP chief, the maneuver led to the two Chinese vessels — a PLA Navy ship and a Chinese Coast Guard vessel — colliding with each other.</p><p>The AFP chief rejected Beijing’s claims that the Philippines was provoking tensions in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/2-chinese-ships-collide-after-chasing-philippine-vessel-in-bajo-de-masinloc-pcg-1102">2 Chinese vessels collide while chasing Philippine boat in Bajo de Masinloc: PCG</a></div><p>“Sinasabi nila na tayo daw ang nanggugulo doon sa West Philippine Sea. Pero kitang-kita natin kahapon kung sa nangyari na sila mismo ang nanggugulo because they continue to claim Bajo de Masinloc, of course, Scarborough Shoal as their own territory. Hindi naman tayo puwedeng pumayag diyan,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Dahil tayo ay backed up tayo ng batas, backed up tayo ng UNCLOS, at &#x27;yung 2016 Arbitral Ruling na nagsasabi na walang basehan yung nine-dash-line ng China. So hindi nila pwedeng angkinin ang Bajo de Masinloc,” he added.</p><p>Brawner said the Philippines was only present in the area to protect local fishermen’s rights.</p><p>“Kasalanan nila &#x27;yung nangyari &#x27;yun. Dahil nga sa mga aggressive na maneuvers nila. Tayo nandoon lang po tayo dahil ah prinoprotektahan natin &#x27;yung mga mangingisdang Pilipino na nandoon sa Scarborough Shoal. &#x27;Yun lang po ang pakay natin na pwedeng mangisda &#x27;yung mga mangingisda natin doon sa Scarborough Shoal dahil traditional na fishing ground natin &#x27;yun,” he said.</p><p>In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was &quot;seriously concerned&quot; by the &quot;dangerous maneuvers&quot; of the two Chinese vessels and their &quot;unlawful interference with a routine humanitarian operation for Filipino fisherfolk&quot; in Bajo de Masinloc.</p><p>&quot;Their actions not only posed a grave danger to Philippine personnel and vessels, but also resulted in the unfortunate collision between the two Chinese vessels,&quot; the DFA said.</p><p>The Philippines, DFA said, remains &quot;keen in utilizing diplomacy and dialogue to address differences and produce positive outcomes&quot; with their Chinese counterparts.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>&#x27;ESCALATION&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The AFP chief also expressed concern over the escalation, noting that the use of a Chinese warship was a &quot;new level&quot; of aggression.  </p><p>“Nakita natin na nagbago &#x27;yung taktika ng China. Sa ngayon ay nag-deploy na sila ng kanilang PLA Navy. At isa itong simbolo ng pagiging agresibo ng China,” said Brawner.</p><p>He recalled that during the 2012 standoff at Scarborough Shoal, the Philippines withdrew its Navy as agreed, while China did not.</p><p>“Kung gumamit sila ng warship, ibang level ng usapan. Ibang level na &#x27;yun &#x27;no? Ibang level na. So kami po ay magkakaroon ng conference sa aming hanay sa Armed Forces on the Philippines together with the Philippine Coast Guard at siyempre hihingi rin po tayo ng guidance sa ating pangulo,” he said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad said the incident with China on Monday was &quot;not the first time&quot; such aggression happened.</p><p>&quot;The Chinese warships of the PLA have been conducting coersive and aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea for the past 20 or so years. It is not the first time a PLA Navy warship has been monitored conducting these illegal actions,&quot; Trinidad said.</p><p>&quot;Yesterday&#x27;s example should serve as a warning for all players in the maritime domain to exercise restraint and ensure their actions are in the bounds of UNCLOS or other pertinent references,&quot; he added.</p><p>Trinidad also reported a spike in Chinese research vessels, maritime militia, and coast guard ships in Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, and Bajo de Masinloc.</p><p>&quot;We monitor them. We noted that this increase coincided with recent developments between India and the Philippines,&quot; he said.</p><p>Brawner assured that contingency plans are in place.</p><p>“May mga contingencies tayo, may mga contingency plan tayo kung may nangyaring namatay, kung inabutan yung Coast Guard natin ng Army Navy, meron tayong gagawin. So very clear sa ating mga tropa at ating Coast Guard ang gagawin nila, we follow the rules of engagement. At sabi dun sa rules of engagement is that we have the right to defend ourselves,” the AFP chief said.</p><p>Among possible responses, the AFP is considering deploying warships and conducting joint sails with allied nations.</p><p>“Kasama yun sa mga options natin… We may come together to act against these aggressive actions by China,” he said.</p><p>Brawner said that any future action will be part of a “whole-of-nation approach” involving coordination with allies and relevant agencies.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PfKB5Rc3xRs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kreklHk6SVw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nPIN-czrfGk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The AFP chief also expressed concern over the escalation, noting that the use of a Chinese warship is on another level of aggression. </p>

The AFP chief also expressed concern over the escalation, noting that the use of a Chinese warship is on another level of aggression.

AFP condemns China's 'aggressive tactics' after West Philippine Sea collision

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AFP condemns China's 'aggressive tactics' after West Philippine Sea collision

Jeff Caparas,

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 12, 2025 02:41 PM PHT

|

Updated August 12, 2025 08:23 PM PHT

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General Romeo Brawner

Chief of Staff

Armed Forces of the Philippines

China

Beijing

West Philippine Sea

ANC

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