The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will conduct maritime patrols and air surveillance flights in the West Philippine Sea following China's announcement of its plan to establish a nature reserve in Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc (BDM).

"There will be no let up in the conduct of maritime patrols and air surveillance flights if only to ensure that BDM will remain ours," Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea said in a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.

"There has been constant monitoring through maritime domain awareness of our features not only Bajo de Masinloc but all our other features in the West Philippine Sea," he added.

Trinidad said China's "recent pronouncement of the nature reserve is part of their malign influence to shape public perceptions and again justify their illegal presence"

"Historically, malign influence has always been that, influencing operations with no action. Look at the nine-dash line, look at the Chinese Coast Guard Law," he said.

"These are pronouncements to justify their illegal presence and eventually their coercive and aggressive actions which both have no all of them have no basis in international law and are not accepted by the international community," he added.

Trinidad also mentioned that "the international community has been one in supporting the AFP in the conduct of actions to ensure that international law will remain steadfast in the West Philippine Sea."

Reiterating the previous pronouncement of President Feridnand Marcos Jr. that the government will not give up even a square inch of the Philippine territory, Trinidad assures that the military "have the appropriate actions ready to ensure that we could institute the command guidance of the Commander-in-Chief."

"The integrity of the national territory is paramount... Rest assured that your Armed Forces know what to do. We are good with what we have," he said. Robina Asido/DMS