THE Chinese Embassy in Manila has sternly rejected what it called “groundless accusations” in the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) annual report of an increased presence of Chinese maritime forces near Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales.
In a statement released on Thursday night, the embassy reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position that Huangyan Dao (the Chinese name for Bajo de Masinloc) is China’s “inherent territory,” and that Chinese vessels and the China Coast Guard (CCG) are operating in accordance with both Chinese domestic law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
In its annual report, summarized publicly by PCG spokesman Commo. Jay Tarriela on social media, the agency said Chinese maritime forces — including the People’s Liberation Army Navy, the China Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Militia — were massing in greater numbers around the shoal in 2024 and 2025.
The PCG said Chinese coast guard vessels have been conducting “illegal patrols” ever closer to the Philippine coastline, extending from Ilocos in Northern Luzon down to Mindoro.
The closest recorded approach was on April 8, 2025, when a CCG vessel was detected just 23 nautical miles off the coast of Dasol town, Pangasinan.
“This marks a shift from 2024, when CCG vessels primarily operated within a 10–15 nautical mile radius of Bajo de Masinloc,” the PCG said.
The Chinese patrols have forced away Filipino fishers from their traditional fishing grounds and pushed closer to the Luzon coast, it said.
In response, the Chinese Embassy blamed the Philippines for rising tensions in Bajo de Masinloc. It said that since the second half of 2023, Manila has repeatedly dispatched coast guard ships, government vessels and so-called fishing boats into what China considers its territorial waters.
The embassy accused the Philippine government of using civilian fishermen for political purposes, pushing them “to the front line” in an effort to provoke incidents and attract international media attention.
“Using Filipino fishermen as political tools and cannon fodder is deplorable — and it will not succeed,” the embassy said.
In response to the Chinese incursions, the PCG said it significantly expanded its presence in Bajo de Masinloc in 2025. PCG vessels reportedly spent an average of 27 days a month in the area, a substantial increase compared to 2024.
The sustained presence, the PCG said, was intended to prevent the “normalization” of what it considers illegal Chinese patrols and to provide protection for Filipino fishermen in the area.
Bajo de Masinloc remains one of the most serious flash points in the part of the South China Sea which the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.
While China claims the shoal as part of its territory, the Philippines asserts sovereign rights over the area based on its exclusive economic zone and the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims. Beijing has repeatedly rejected that ruling.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has also clapped back against criticism by Sen. Risa Hontiveros of “interference” in the West Philippine Sea.
In a strongly worded statement on Friday, the embassy said it functions both as a “bridge for promoting friendship and cooperation” between China and the Philippines, and as a “fortress” in safeguarding China’s national dignity.
It said it “strongly opposes groundless attacks and smears,” and warned it would no longer remain silent in the face of what it described as the incitement of hatred against China.
“If fake news is spread, if China is defamed, or if hatred is incited, we will not remain patient and silent. We will push back firmly without hesitation,” the embassy said.
Hontiveros reiterated her call for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to respond decisively to what she described as disrespectful and hostile behavior by the Chinese Embassy.
Speaking at Wednesday’s Kapihan sa Senado forum, Hontiveros said she is waiting for a formal reply from Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro to her letter seeking firm action over recent incidents involving China and Filipino groups asserting the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea.
“The Chinese Embassy is a bad guest here. They should show respect, especially given their recent actions against those who are simply standing up for the right to defend our ocean,” she said.
“The Chinese Embassy’s behavior is too victimized. They should stop being onion skins,” she said.
Hontiveros said that speaking out against perceived violations of Philippine sovereignty is an obligation of public officials. “Why should we be afraid? It is our duty to speak out, especially when the rights of Filipinos are being violated,” she said.
In a Jan. 21 statement, the DFA reaffirmed Manila’s commitment to defending national sovereignty and sovereign rights.
While reiterating that differences between states are best addressed through established diplomatic channels, the DFA stressed that the Philippines position is grounded in international law, citing the 1982 Unclos and the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claim.
In a related development, a new policy book released this week by the Stratbase Group urged the Philippines must abandon “election-cycle thinking” and pursue long-term strategic planning to safeguard its sovereignty, strengthen national resilience, and navigate rising economic and security challenges.
The book, “Politika Beyond 2028: The Urgency for Resilient Growth, Inclusive Governance and Geostrategic Thinking,” edited by Stratbase President and CEO Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, contends that the Philippines’ current practice of governing from one political cycle to the next has left the country vulnerable to external shocks, governance weaknesses and growing security threats, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The Philippines can no longer afford short-term thinking,” Manhit said. “In a world shaped by economic volatility, geopolitical tension and security threats, we need resilience, good governance and strategic clarity.”
Manhit said the book draws a strategic road map for strengthening national resilience, safeguarding sovereignty and guiding policymaking beyond electoral timelines.
“Economic security and good governance are inseparable,” he said. “Resilient growth requires accountable institutions, transparent leadership and policies that protect public trust while creating real opportunities for Filipinos.”
Organized around the core themes of resilient growth, inclusive of governance and geostrategic thinking, the book examines how domestic economic fragility, institutional weaknesses and external pressures intersect to threaten national stability.
It argues that economic performance and governance reform must advance together if the country is to remain competitive and secure.
“Politika Beyond 2028” highlights the Philippines’ strategic location in the Indo-Pacific and underscores the growing urgency of defending its interests amid escalating regional tensions, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.
“The West Philippine Sea issue is not episodic. It requires governance that extends beyond political terms,” Manhit said. “Geostrategic thinking is critical in navigating rising tensions and external pressures.
The book points out that China leverages long-term pressure and gray-zone tactics, which leave nations exposed when policies fluctuate with political transitions.
“This is about readiness,” Manhit said. “Readiness to confront uncertainty, protect what matters and ensure the Philippines not only endures — but leads — in a rapidly changing world.”
The book warns that without sustained long-term planning, the Philippines risks entering the next decade unprepared for the implications of evolving geopolitical dynamics and national security challenges, as well as domestic economic and institutional pressures.
