Philippines protests hundreds of Chinese ships swarming West Philippine Sea reef
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest following a report that round 220 Chinese language militia ships have been moored close to a reef within the nation's unique financial zone (EEZ) within the West Philippine Sea.
Overseas Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday night time stated he fired off a protest over the presence of Chinese language vessels on the Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) within the West Philippine Sea.
The coral reef, which is nicely inside the nation's EEZ and continental shelf, is situated northeast of Pagkakaisa Banks and Reefs (Union Reefs) roughly 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan.
NTF-WPS by way of Philippine Coast Guard
The nation's prime diplomat confirmed that Nationwide Safety Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. beneficial the submitting of the diplomatic protest.
"I obtained the coordinates, so to talk. And relayed to my authorized artillery, “Hearth at will.” Shell must be flying at first mild. I don’t often announce maneuvers nevertheless it appears everyone is baring his chest," Locsin tweeted Sunday night time.
Locsin earlier stated he was ready for an order from Esperon and Protection Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier than making a transfer.
Diplomatic protest fired off tonight; can’t watch for first mild. @DFAPHL @cnnphilippines @ANCALERTS @gmanews @manilabulletin @UN_News_Centre. https://t.co/JXdr5P5utv
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) March 21, 2021
Incursion, militarization
Lorenzana, in the meantime, accused China of "incursion," saying that the presence of Chinese language militia boats within the reef is a "clear provocative motion of militarizing the world."
"We name on the Chinese language to cease this incursion and instantly recall these boats violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory," Lorenzana stated in a press release Sunday night time.
We view with grave concern the presence of 220 Chinese language militia boats within the Julian Felipe Reef (internationally referred to as Whitsun Reef, situated inside Union Reefs) within the West Philippine Sea. For extra: https://t.co/swxfNO1Zr8 pic.twitter.com/Wfbqwf7WSN
— Delfin Lorenzana (@del_lorenzana) March 21, 2021
Emphasizing that the world is properly inside Philippine EEZ and continental shelf, the protection chief burdened that Filipinos have the only proper to its assets beneath worldwide regulation and the 2016 arbitral ruling.
China continues to disregard the arbitral ruling, which invalidated its expansive claims within the South China Sea, a part of which is the West Philippine Sea.
Lorenzana added that his company is coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Nationwide Activity Pressure for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) and the DGA for applicable motion.
Additional validation
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), however, stated it might conduct sovereignty patrols to "additional validate the report."
The report launched Saturday additionally got here from the federal government, notably the NTF-WPS and the PCG.
AFP spokesperson MGen. Edgard Arevalo on Sunday stated the report can be made bases for applicable actions not restricted to diplomatic protests.
"The AFP won't renege from our dedication to guard and defend our maritime curiosity inside the bounds of the regulation," Arevalo stated.
The NTF-WPS has expressed concern over the presence of Chinese language militia boats because of "potential overfishing and destruction of the marine setting, in addition to dangers to security of navigation."
