Manila has filed a diplomatic protest over incidents of "close distance maneuvering" by Chinese coast guard ships in waters off Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea said on Tuesday. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, who chairs the task force, said that as a policy, the Philippine government will always resort to peaceful remedies to resolve incidents, especially those that happen in the West Philippine Sea. "We are for peace in the area. So, much likely the first approach is diplomatic," the former armed forces chief of staff said.

Cueto, F. E. (2022, March 30). Manila files protest over Scarborough incident. The Manila Times, p. A9.