China challenged AFP plane 9 times in PH waters, Senate told

MANILA, Philippines—A Philippine military plane faced off nine challenges by China Coast Guard while it was on patrol over Philippine waters near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal last year, a senior Armed Forces of the Philippines officer said at the Senate.

Col. Nonilon Lawas, then part of Northern Luzon Command, recalled the time when he and four others were on a mission to gather evidence of China’s massive and illegal harvest of giant clams in 2019. He, however, did not give the specific date.

Lawas made the narration when asked by Sen. Risa Hontiveros about the aerial patrol at a hearing of the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday. Lawas’ designation as colonel was one of those approved by the appointments body.

“While on maritime patrol along Bajo de Masinloc, we were challenged nine times by the Chinese Coast Guard and we were forced to leave our territory,” he said.

But the Philippine Air Force pilot at the time replied to the China Coast Guard that the plane crew was conducting a routine patrol over Philippine territory, Lawas said.

The evidence collected by Lawas’ team showing China’s massive harvest of giant clams had been used in a diplomatic protest filed by the Philippine government against Beijing in 2019.

It’s not clear, however, if it was the same diplomatic protest publicly announced by the Philippine government in April 2019.

Lawas and four others earned Silver Cross Medal awards as a result of the mission. The award is given for intelligence-related accomplishments.

Panatag Shoal was the site of a standoff between Philippine and Chinese government ships in 2012. Since then, China took control of the area.

The Chinese aggression prompted Manila to file an arbitration case against Beijing in 2013, to dispute its sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s excessive claims, saying Beijing’s nine-dash line territorial stake was at most mythical.

Panatag Shoal was declared an international fishing ground but China continued to position vessels in the area, preventing Filipinos access to it.

TSB