The Philippine military today ordered the deployment of more naval ships in the South China Sea amid heightened diplomatic strife over the build-up of more than 200 Chinese vessels near Ngau Yoke Reef.
Manila asked Beijing to recall 183 vessels around Ngau Yoke Reef, located about 320 kilometers west of Palawan, saying those vessels were intruding on Philippine sovereign territory.
The Philippine Coast Guard found about 220 vessels on the 7th, but only made them public last weekend. The Philippine military’s air patrol found 183 boats still stranded around Bull Yoke Reef on the 22nd.
China said the fishing boats were sheltering near Niu Yoke Reef because of bad weather. China claims Niuyu Reef is part of China’s Spratly Islands.
A spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines said additional navy warships would be sent on “sovereignty patrol duties” in the South China Sea. He did not say whether the warships would patrol near Niuyu Reef, nor did he say what type of warships would be used.
As diplomatic strife rises, countries such as Canada, Australia and Japan have all expressed concern over renewed tensions in the South China Sea.
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