The Philippine government said Wednesday (March 31) that more than 250 Chinese Communist Party vessels have been spotted near six Manila-claimed islands and reefs in the disputed South China Sea, which it believes are manned by militias, and asked the Chinese Communist Party to immediately remove them, according to an Associated Press report Wednesday (March 31).
A government agency that oversees the disputed waters said the gathering of Communist Party-flagged vessels and four Communist Navy ships at the Communist-occupied artificial island bases “poses a threat to maritime navigation and safety of Life” and could damage the reefs and threaten the Philippines’ sovereign rights.
The report noted that the CCP ignored the Philippine government’s diplomatic protests and Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s call more than a week ago for some 200 Chinese ships to leave Bull Yoke Reef (Whitsun Reef), saying the waters belonged to China and that the Chinese ships were taking refuge in rough waters.
Philippine officials said 44 Chinese “maritime militia” vessels remained moored at Ngau Yoke Reef on Monday after carrying out air and sea patrols.
They said more than 200 other vessels from the Chinese fleet apparently dispersed to five other areas in the Spratly Islands, which the Communist Party calls the Spratlys, including three artificial islands occupied by the Communist Party.
Philippine officials said there were at least four Chinese naval vessels on the Communist-occupied Mischief Reef, which the Communist Party took control of in 1995, prompting strong protests from the Philippines and other countries claiming sovereignty.
Officials said about 45 Chinese communist vessels were near the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island at the Time.
The Philippines calls on China to immediately withdraw these vessels flying its flag,” the National Task Force for The West Philippine Sea (NTF) said in a statement. Neither the Philippines nor the international community will accept China’s claim to what it calls ‘undisputed and complete sovereignty’ over almost the entire South China Sea.”
Philippine military officials said a patrol plane deployed by the Philippine military received a radio warning to stay away from one of the islands occupied by the Chinese Communist Party, but the pilot replied by radio that the patrol would continue as planned.
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippine military is sending light fighter jets to fly over hundreds of Chinese Communist ships in disputed waters in the South China Sea, Reuters reported on March 28. Lorenzana reiterated his demand for the immediate withdrawal of the Chinese communist vessels.
Philippine Defense Secretary Lorenzana said in a March 27 statement that Philippine military aircraft are being sent to monitor the situation on a daily basis. Lorenzana said the military will also strengthen its naval presence in the South China Sea and conduct “sovereignty patrols” to protect Filipino fishermen. Lorenzana noted that Philippine air and maritime forces are ready to protect national sovereignty.
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