The Philippine army on Friday stated it had noticed over 50 Chinese vessels within the neighborhood of Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal within the West Philippine Sea (WPS) throughout a latest air patrol.
Citing its air patrol performed on June 30, the Western Command (Wescom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stated 48 Chinese fishing vessels have been seen close to Iroquois Reef, situated south of Recto Bank in WPS.
Lieutenant Karla Andres, co-pilot of Philippine Navy’s gentle patrol plane, stated the fishing vessels have been noticed to be “anchored in groups of five to seven and no fishing activities were noticed.”
“They seem to just loiter in the area,” a Wescom assertion quoted Andres as saying.
Based on earlier Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) flights, Wescom stated the variety of Chinese fishing vessels within the space elevated from 12 in February to 47 on June 12.
Aside from the Chinese fishing vessels, three China coast guard (CCG) ships and two People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels have been seen “regularly loitering” close to Sabina Shoal, Wescom stated.
Two picket resupply boats from the Philippines and two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels have been additionally seen in the identical space, it added.
“These developments raise an alarming concern about China’s intentions and actions within these disputed waters,” Wescom stated.
Recto Bank
According to Wescom, Recto Bank stands as “a focal point in this rising concern over China’s recent behavior” and “a significant feature for the Philippines holding immense potential for the country’s energy security and economic growth.”
“Recto Bank is a vital feature within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and China must cease its swarming of vessels to respect our sovereign rights,” stated Wescom spokesperson Commander Ariel Coloma.
Wescom stated detailed experiences might be forwarded to greater authorities as a step “to facilitate the potential filing of a diplomatic protest.”
GMA News Online has sought a remark from the Chinese Embassy on the matter but it surely has but to offer a press release as of posting time.
On Wednesday, the PCG stated two CCG vessels numbered 5201 and 4203 made “dangerous maneuvers” that would have prompted a collision with two PCG ships close to Ayungin Shoal on June 30.
PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela stated PCG deployed its vessels BRP Malabrigo and BRP Malapascua to help the resupply mission of the AFP within the space.
After the incident, one other CCG vessel with physique quantity 3103 went to the world from Bajo Masinloc to “reinforce” the 2 CCG vessels.
Tarriela stated six Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels swarmed the world and blocked the Philippine ship from going to Ayungin Shoal. He additionally stated two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships, 629 and 620, have been seen within the space.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Thursday stated the maneuvers of their vessels in the course of the June 30 incident in Ayungin Shoal have been “professional and restrained.”
At his latest press convention, Wang stated the Chinese vessels “carried out law enforcement activities to uphold China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime order.”
Wang maintained that Ren’ai Reef, or Ayungin Shoal, was a part of China’s Nansha Islands and identified that it was the PCG vessels who intruded Chinese waters.
United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III has raised concern over the incident in Ayungin Shoal throughout his July 6 telephone dialog together with his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, in accordance with the Pentagon. —KBK, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
