MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday warned that China’s alleged foreign and domestic malign activities in the country, as well as its aggressive actions in Philippine waters, could escalate through 2028.
When asked whether China’s recent activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) represented a new phase of escalation and an attempt to assert its position, AFP spokesperson for the WPS Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said there had been a “marked escalation.”
Trinidad cited the presence of a Chinese research vessel off Bajo de Masinloc and an encounter between a Philippine Air Force C-208 patrol aircraft and a Chinese J-16 fighter as among China’s latest aggressive actions.
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He also cited a Chinese maritime militia vessel monitored off Philippine-held Kota Island on Oct. 9, when at least 22 small boats, or sampans, were seen fishing and dumping waste at sea.
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A Chinese deep-sea research vessel was also monitored conducting unauthorized marine scientific research near Hubo Reef in the WPS on Oct. 11, Trinidad said.
“These activities mark an escalation by the Chinese Communist Party’s agents in the maritime domain,” he told reporters after a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
He warned that the escalation could extend beyond maritime activities.
“And I mentioned previously that we have to expect not only this action on the maritime domain, but even foreign and domestic malign activities on land will escalate until 2028,” he said.
Trinidad said the escalation could be linked to the upcoming 2028 national elections.
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During the briefing, Trinidad defended the Philippines’ right to conduct medical missions without seeking China’s permission. He was referring to an Oct. 8 incident in which a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel fired water cannons at and shadowed a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel assisting in a medical evacuation.
The incident followed a statement by China’s Foreign Ministry that the Philippine Coast Guard vessel leading the operation had entered waters adjacent to China without permission, prompting the CCG to act.
“The Defense Department, the AFP, has a mandate to secure our territory. In doing so, we need not ask the permission of any foreign power. That includes evacuating our people in need of medical treatment,” he said. /das
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