The dangerous maneuver of a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel that risked collision with a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship in Panatag Shoal last March 2 was “deliberate” and violated international maritime law and agreements, a former top diplomat of the Philippines said yesterday. Albert del Rosario, a former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary, slammed the CCG ship’s close distance manuevering which he said endangered the lives of Filipinos on the PCG ship conducting maritime patrol operations in the area, also known as Scarborough Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc. On Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned the Philippines not to interfere with its patrol at the shoal, stating that it allegedly “has sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc and its adjacent waters as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters.”

Lee-Brago, P., Felipe, C. S., & Marcelo, E. (2022, March 31). The Philippine Star, p. 5.