135 Chinese militia vessels monitored at Felipe Reef since Nov 13: PCG

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SOME 135 Chinese maritime militia vessels have been monitored so far in the vicinity of a reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in South China, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for the WPS, said the PCG initially sighted 111 Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels swarming Julian Felipe Reef as of last November 13.

Tarriela said Armed Forces monitoring later documented 125 Chinese vessels in the area, which is well inside the country’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.

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He said National Security Adviser and National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) chairman Eduardo Año ordered the PCG “to carry out a maritime patrol to challenge and document the illegal presence of the CMM in Julian Felipe Reef.”

Last Saturday, Tarriela said PCG commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan deployed PCG vessels BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra to conduct patrols in the vicinity of the reef.

“No response was made to the radio challenges issued by the PCG to the CMM vessels which is now estimated to have grown to more than 135 vessels dispersed and scattered within the Julian Felipe Reef,” said Tarriela.

Tarriela reiterated the PCG’s commitment to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and sovereign rights in the WPS in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated China’s excessive claim in the South China Sea, and Philippine domestic laws.

“Admiral Gavan emphasizes that Coast Guard vessels will consistently patrol the West Philippine Sea in collaboration with relevant components of the NTF-WPS,” said Tarriela.

“He (Gavan) underscores the PCG’s “unflinching resolve to fulfill its fundamental patriotic duty as the protector of laws and rules to ensure that all Filipinos enjoy peace and prosperity in all maritime territories and jurisdiction of the country consistent with the policy direction of the President,” added Tarriela.

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