By Bea Bernardo
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) reported that Chinese vessels remain at Julian Felipe Reef, despite calls from the government for them to leave Philippine territory.
The task force said 44 Chinese vessels remain moored, anchored, and stationary at the reef as of March 29.
The recent maritime patrol by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also revealed that more than 200 other Chinese vessels are scattered in the Kalayaan Island Group.
There are 115 Chinese vessels sighted in Chigua (Kennan) Reef, 45 vessels in Pag-asa (Thitu) Islands, and 50 more vessels dispersed in Panganiban (Mischief), Kagitingan (Fiery), and Zamora (Subi) Reefs, all within the Kalayaan Island Group.
Four People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels are also at Panganiban Reef, which forms part of the Philippine’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.
“The NTF-WPS reiterates its assertion of Philippine sovereignty, and sovereign rights and jurisdiction, over the Kalayaan Island Group and West Philippine Sea, and expresses deep concern over the continuing unlawful presence (swarming) of the Chinese maritime militia, which did not pull out,” NTF-WPS said in a statement.
The task force also maintained that the so-called fishing vessels are manned by Chinese maritime militia and called on China to immediately withdraw their vessels.
“They may be doing illicit activities at night, and their lingering (swarming) presence may cause irreparable damage to the marine environment due to marine pollution and destruction of coral reefs,” NTF-WPS said.
It also claimed that the presence of the Chinese vessels poses a threat to the peaceful exercise of sovereign rights of the Philippines inside its EEZ.
AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana earlier ordered the deployment of more Navy assets in the West Philippine Sea to strengthen the maritime patrols in the area.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has filed a diplomatic protest against China over this situation.
Meanwhile, the NTF-WPS expressed gratitude to its international partners for their support, with countries such as the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, and Australia, among others, calling on China to adhere to international law.
“Neither the Philippines nor the international community will ever accept China’s assertion of its so-called ‘indisputable integrated sovereignty’ over almost all of the South China Sea, part of which is the WPS,” the NTF-WPS said.
