Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770105946846HANQWfua0AA0eDj_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Amid Chinese protests, the Armed Forces of the Philippines says West PH Sea activities with the United States and other nations scheduled from January to March are covered by notice to airmen and mariners, and are within PH EEZ. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said that bilateral and multilateral activities with the United States and other nations in the West Philippine Sea scheduled from January to March are covered by a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and Notice to Mariners (NOTMAR), and are within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/3/marcoleta-pangilinan-clash-over-west-ph-sea-coordinates-1353">Marcoleta, Pangilinan clash over West Philippine Sea coordinates</a></div><p>Amid criticisms from the Chinese military that the move escalates tensions, the AFP said such claims are baseless.</p><p>“There have been questions that we are accused of sowing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. These accusations are baseless. The area is covered by a Notice to Airmen that covers activities that are prescheduled, duly coordinated and approved between the Philippines and its treaty ally. These exercises are well within our EEZ—areas where we have sovereignty and sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.</p><p>Trinidad explained that the NOTAM, which covers the period from January 21 to March 31, serves as official authorization for the AFP and its allied and partner nations to conduct a series of military activities within the designated area—which covers Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/12/china-carrying-out-maritime-occupation-in-west-philippine-sea-analyst-1326">China carrying out &#x27;maritime occupation&#x27; in West Philippine Sea: analyst</a></div><p>“It includes Bajo de Masinloc; it is more than 600 nautical miles from mainland China. No provision of international law supports their claim or their accusation. On the other hand, many more such activities and notices will be issued in the coming months,” the official told reporters.</p><p>“This is a Notice to Airmen passing that area not to be surprised if they will notice that there are certain aircraft performing certain activities. Likewise, the aircraft in that area are reminded to get in touch with the appropriate authorities to inform them of their actions so as not to cause due alarm,” he added.</p><p>Trinidad further said that the timeframe does not mean continuous exercises.</p><p>“There are lots of activities that are not actually involved during the conduct of the exercise [proper] but at times, they are needed when you have to do some pre-activities, like conducting planning and reconnaissance in the area. So, with that, we have to make a big timeframe for the conduct of these exercises,” the official noted.</p><p>“It will not only be a single activity considering the duration covered. So, kaysa naman na paulit-ulit mag-request for every activity, minabuti na medyo malawak yung coverage so that all activities within that timeframe already covered,” he continued.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘NUMBERS DO NOT LIE, PEOPLE DO.’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Rejecting claims that Manila is provoking tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Trinidad said facts and official records show that the Philippines has always acted within the law.</p><p>Trinidad also stressed that the country has not laid claims to areas beyond its maritime entitlements.</p><p>“Historically, the Philippines has been on the receiving end of coercive and aggressive actions. We have not claimed what is not ours,” he said.</p><p>&quot;On the other hand, we have received a lot of coercive and aggressive actions. Numbers do not lie. People do. So, facts will tell us that we have not been nor will we be the reason for aggression in the West Philippine Sea,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>STANDARD PROCEDURE OF PROFESSIONAL MILITARIES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Trinidad emphasized that issuing NOTAMs and NOTMARs is a standard procedure observed by professional militaries to inform aircraft and ships, regardless of nationality, transiting the area.</p><p>“Each time we have an activity, we issue notices either to airmen or mariners. The other side [China] is just making a big deal out of it. I would like to say that the area covered is well within our EEZ, where we have sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, and it covers Bajo de Masinloc,” he added.</p><p>Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles west of mainland Zambales, well within the Philippines’ EEZ. On the other hand, it is 472 nautical miles from Hainan Province, China’s nearest land mass.</p><p>The shoal, however, has been under Beijing’s control since 2012.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>POSSIBLE EXCLUSION ZONES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Navy official stressed that if live-fire drills will be conducted, corresponding exclusion zones will be declared to ensure the safety of air and sea traffic.</p><p>“Apart from the NOTAM, the moment there will be live fire exercises, exclusion zones will also be declared,” Trinidad said.</p><p>He added that the size of the exclusion zones will depend on the activity to be conducted and the weapon systems to be used.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>EXERCISES STILL IN PLANNING STAGE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Trinidad said that details on the number of exercises, participating countries, and assets that will be used are still being finalized.</p><p>“We could not yet give in advance because we still don&#x27;t know what will be the list of vessels or aircraft for that matter that will be required for the different activities. Rest assured that these are now in the planning stage, and when finalized, you will be informed accordingly,” he noted.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><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/YCbmARXe440?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/_taGk2VmsTQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The AFP explained that the NOTAM, which covers the period from January 21 to March 31, serves as official authorization for the AFP and its allied and partner nations to conduct a series of military activities within the designated area—which covers Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.</p>

The AFP explained that the NOTAM, which covers the period from January 21 to March 31, serves as official authorization for the AFP and its allied and partner nations to conduct a series of military activities within the designated area—which covers Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.

AFP says exercises in West PH Sea 'duly coordinated,' rejects China's 'baseless' claims

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AFP says exercises in West PH Sea 'duly coordinated,' rejects China's 'baseless' claims

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 03, 2026 04:09 PM PHT

Read More:

military exercises

exercise box

Notice to Airmen

Notice to Mariners

West Philippine Sea

Bajo de Masinloc

Armed Forces of the Philippines

China

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