Philippines keeping warships at bay to avoid fueling SCS tensions

THE PHILIPPINES is opting to keep its warships away from a disputed atoll in the South China Sea (SCS) for now, preferring to let its coast guard handle operations to avoid escalating tensions with China, its security adviser said on Thursday.

- By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio and Chloe Mari A. Hufana Reporters

National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Afio said the government is leaving security operations at Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), including safeguarding Filipino fishers and enforcing maritime law, but stressed the military remains ready to assist “if needed.”

“As much as possible, we don’t want to be the ones to trigger any escalation,” he told reporters in a phone call. “We haven’t seen anything that would trigger military involvement so far.”

A China Coast Guard vessel collided with a Chinese navy warship on Monday as the former was chasing a Philippine vessel that was distributing aid to Filipino fishermen at the contested Scarborough Shoal.

‘And on Wednesday, a Chinese fighter jet “intercepted” a Philippine aircraft conducting a patrol flight over Scarborough, PCG spokesman Jay Tristan Tarriela said that same day, adding that there were two US warships spotted sailing near the disputed shoal.

The string of incidents were the latest flareup in the longstanding dispute between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, a key global trade route believed to be rich in minerals and oil deposits.