MALACAÑANG insisted on the rights of the Philippines on Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal as part of the country’s territory.
This came on the heels of a statement made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin who said that China has sovereign rights on the area they call Huangyan Dao and other adjacent areas, which he said should be respected by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Despite the statement, Acting Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Martin Andanar reiterated that the government’s stand on the issue has not changed.
He said the Philippines will continue to enforce full sovereignty and jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc and the surrounding Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf.
It can be recalled that earlier this month, a ship from the Chinese Coast Guard conducted a “close distance maneuvering” towards the BRP Malabrigo of the PCG, the fourth such incident of close encounters between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the area.