The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has discovered a second yellow buoy positioned at the northern tip of Bajo de Masinloc Shoal, during a routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight on Thursday morning.
This comes a day after the PCG detected a similar buoy placed at the center of the shoal, suggesting continuing activities in the area.
According to the Coast Guard, they also recorded the exact coordinates of a reported structure seen during previous operations. A review of historical satellite images revealed that the debris has existed for at least two years, confirming it is not a sign of new construction.
During the same mission, the PCG aircraft experienced aggressive interference from Chinese forces. Officials reported that a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter flew directly beneath their aircraft, followed by a PLA Air Force Shenyang J-16 fighter jet, which maneuvered dangerously close, threatening the safety of both PCG personnel and journalists on board.
Despite the incident, the PCG reaffirmed its commitment to protect the Philippines’ maritime jurisdiction and to uphold international law in the West Philippine Sea.
