Camille Naredo

Fisherfolk on small bancas join volunteers from the Atin Ito Coalition and members of the media as they prepare to depart from Matalbis Port in Masinloc, Zambales, for the second civilian resupply mission to the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Fisherfolk on small bancas join volunteers from the Atin Ito Coalition and members of the media as they prepare to depart from Matalbis Port in Masinloc, Zambales, for the second civilian resupply mission to the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Atin Ito Coalition

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/177494860797720240515-atin-ito-wps-MT-35.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Fisherfolk on small bancas join volunteers from the Atin Ito Coalition and members of the media as they prepare to depart from Matalbis Port in Masinloc, Zambales, for the second civilian resupply mission to the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fisherfolk on small bancas join volunteers from the Atin Ito Coalition and members of the media as they prepare to depart from Matalbis Port in Masinloc, Zambales, for the second civilian resupply mission to the West Philippine Sea on May 15, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed that Chinese naval and air patrols were monitored over Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal over the weekend, shortly after the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM) between Manila and Beijing was conducted in Fujian, China.</p><p>&quot;We were able to monitor the Southern Command of the PLA [People&#x27;s Liberation Army] Navy. They conducted naval and air patrols over Bajo de Masinloc, basically a day after the BCM meeting,&quot; Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, told reporters on the sidelines of the National Symposium on the Law of the Sea and the West Philippine Sea in Pasig City on Tuesday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/30/palace-says-no-west-philippine-sea-compromise-in-oil-exploration-talks-with-china-1408">READ: Palace says no West Philippine Sea compromise in potential oil exploration with China</a></div><p>Chinese media have reported that the PLA Southern Theater Command conducted readiness patrols in the sea and airspace of Bajo de Masinloc on Sunday, March 29.</p><p>Despite the continued presence of Chinese forces in the said waters, the National Security Council (NSC) maintained this is not an escalation.</p><p>NSC Assistant Director General Cornelio Valencia Jr. said such activities remain part of China&#x27;s &quot;standard operations&quot; in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>&quot;It has been standard operations of China in the West Philippine Sea. But, as we have said, we do not look at this situation as [an] escalation. So, we just try to accept the fact that they are there. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is on top of that situation,&quot; Valencia said in an ambush interview.</p><p>&quot;It has been monitored. No untoward incident has occurred, and to suffice that our actions are always on the legal side. So, we do not do that aggressive and illegal and coercive actions at sea,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;SOMETHING NEW BUT EXPECTED&#x27;</strong></div><p>The NSC also addressed the recent warship-to-warship interaction between the Philippine Navy&#x27;s BRP Benguet and the PLA Navy near Pag-asa Island.</p><p>On Wednesday, March 25, the BRP Benguet successfully averted a potential collision after a PLA Navy Type 054A missile frigate (Hull 532) executed a dangerous maneuver during a maritime operation near Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/26/ph-navy-ship-averts-collision-with-chinese-warship-near-pag-asa-2340">READ: PH Navy ship averts collision with Chinese warship near Pag-asa</a></div><p>Valencia described the encounter as a new development, but not unexpected.</p><p>He also reiterated the government&#x27;s stance of restraint.</p><p>&quot;It is something new but it is expected also. So, as I&#x27;ve said, the baseline is that we do not escalate the situation. We maintain our position—the principled position of the Philippines—that we act according to the rules of engagement,&quot; Valencia said.</p><p>The official continued, &quot;We act in accordance with rules in operating at sea. So, we avoid responding to dangerous maneuvers like we have seen before.&quot;</p><p>The AFP earlier described as an escalation the near-collision incident involving the two warships.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>JOINT EXPLORATION WON&#x27;T UNDERMINE SOVEREIGNTY</strong></div><p>On the issue of possible joint oil and gas exploration with China, the NSC stressed that any discussions will not compromise Philippine sovereignty.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/30/philippines-china-open-talks-on-oil-and-gas-exploration-1034">READ: Philippines, China open talks on oil and gas exploration</a></div><p>&quot;Any talks have to be based on this baseline. So, it is very clear. It is a discussion and it will never undermine our sovereign rights and our territory in the Philippines,&quot; Valencia said.</p><p>He emphasized that the country&#x27;s legal victory in the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration remains non-negotiable.</p><p>&quot;Right now, what we have are the proposals of the past that we have to review. This time around, we want to talk to China about it,&quot; Valencia said.</p><p>&quot;But we have to understand that it does not mean that we are going to give up the baseline success that we have in the arbitral ruling. So, these are non-negotiable things. The arbitral ruling is non-negotiable, so it has to be considered in the talks,&quot; he stressed.</p>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that Chinese naval and air patrols were monitored over Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal over the weekend, shortly after the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism between Manila and Beijing was conducted in Fujian, China.</p>

The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that Chinese naval and air patrols were monitored over Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal over the weekend, shortly after the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism between Manila and Beijing was conducted in Fujian, China.

'Not an escalation': NSC says China activities in West PH Sea part of 'standard operations'

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'Not an escalation': NSC says China activities in West PH Sea part of 'standard operations'

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 31, 2026 05:18 PM PHT

Read More:

National Security Council

People's Liberation Army Navy

Bajo de Masinloc

West Philippine Sea

China

maritime conflict

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