The Philippine National Working Group on the West Philippine Sea issued a statement on the 20th, saying that about 220 Chinese fishing boats had gathered around Ngau Yoke Reef since the 7th. The Chinese side explained that these boats were only temporarily sheltered from the storm. However, some in the Philippines do not believe this statement. A former Philippine justice who specializes in the South China Sea, Mr. Carpio said today that the recent gathering of some 220 Chinese boats at Niu Yoke Reef in the South China Sea could be a prelude to China’s occupation of the island in the disputed waters, threatening a repeat of the 1995 incident in which Mischief Reef was occupied by China.
A former Philippine justice suspected that the gathering of Chinese boats at Niu Yoke Reef is a prelude to the occupation, and warned of a repeat of the 1995 incident in which Mizrahi Reef was occupied by China.
The Philippines’ “West Philippine Sea State Working Group” issued a statement on the 20th, saying that about 220 Chinese fishing boats have been gathering around Ngau Yoke Reef since the 7th, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia. The Philippine Department of Defense said on the 21st that the Chinese approach is a “clear provocation to militarize the area” and demanded that the Chinese vessels leave immediately; the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs also lodged a diplomatic protest that night.
Antonio Carpio, interviewed by ABS-CBN News today, said: “We are very worried. I’m particularly worried that they can now start claiming Bull Yoke Reef, which the Philippines calls Julian Felipe Reef, and building on it, just like they did on Mischief Reef in 1995.” Carpio said, “This is not the first Time they’ve done this. Last year at this time, in 2020 they also parked 100 boats at Bull Yoke Reef. So this is a prelude, in my opinion, to the occupation of Bull Yoke Reef.”
According to Carpio, China said at first that they were only building fishermen’s shelters on Meeji Reef. “Now Mischief Reef is their air and naval base. Call it their Pearl Harbor (in the South China Sea), a huge air and naval base.” In response, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. tweeted that the Philippine warships had confronted Chinese warships during the Mischief Reef incident and that the U.S. had called for both sides to be taken off alert at the time, but “we were the only ones to do so. The next time such a standoff occurs, we will stand our ground, as President Rodrigo Duterte stated at the United Nations, and not give up an inch of sea.
However, in response to the Manila authorities, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement on the 22nd, saying: “Recently, due to the sea conditions, some Chinese fishing boats are sheltering near the Ngau Yoke Reef, which is normal. There are no so-called ‘Chinese maritime militia boats’ and any unfounded speculation is unhelpful, so I hope the parties concerned will look at it rationally.”
The situation in the South China Sea continues to be tense, with the Philippine government on Saturday (20) alleging that some 220 fishing boats, manned by Chinese maritime militia, were assembled near the Chinese-controlled, sovereignty-disputed Niu Yoke Reef in the Spratly Islands, according to an earlier report by East.com. The U.S. on Tuesday (23) expressed support for the Philippines’ sovereignty over Niuyu Reef.
The 183 fishing boats were still photographed near Niu Yoke Reef on Monday (22), and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Steven Lochin said he would make serious representations to the Chinese side. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, will meet with the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines to discuss related issues. Duterte has been on friendly terms with China since taking office in 2016 and has been accused of not actively defending the country’s sovereignty.
The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement Tuesday saying the U.S. and the Philippines share concerns about China’s alleged use of maritime militias to intimidate, provoke and threaten other countries and jeopardize peace and security in the region.
The report said Beijing denied Monday that the 220 fishing boats were maritime National Guard, and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines responded that any speculation would only bring unnecessary irritation, hoping that both sides would deal with it in a calm and rational manner, and reiterated China’s sovereignty over the waters around Ngau Yoke Reef.
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