As many as 220 Chinese fishing boats have been lined up in the disputed waters of the South China Sea with the Philippines for many days to avoid the wind, sparking discontent in the Philippines. The Philippines recently deployed warplanes to threaten low sweep over the vessels in the waters. Philippine Defense Secretary Lorenzana has called for the immediate evacuation of Chinese vessels harassing Julian Felipe Reef. This comes after sources reported that China evacuated most of its fishing boats. On the Chinese side’s claim of sheltering, the Philippine defense chief criticized that he is not a fool.
According to a report in the New Headlines today, the Philippine defense chief refused to allow Chinese vessels to anchor under the pretext of weather conditions, saying “I’m not stupid!” and asked to “get out. Despite the fact that Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has alienated the U.S. and embraced China since taking office, and shelved the South China Sea arbitration case that his predecessor struggled to win, relations with China have not been smooth. Chinese ships have attacked Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea, and moored on the pretext of bad weather after the Philippines deployed its warplanes. In response, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said earlier in the day, “I am not a fool! And asked the Chinese ships to “get out now!”
In a strongly worded statement issued earlier today, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana protested to Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian that some 44 Chinese vessels are still moored at Julian Felipe Reef after the Philippine government requested their evacuation, the newspaper said, citing CNN sources.
On March 20, the West Philippine Sea Country Task Force reported that there were more than 200 Chinese vessels in the area. The Chinese government said they were only seeking refuge due to “bad sea conditions,” but air and sea patrols this week showed that 44 boats were still there, while more than 200 boats were in various reefs in the Calayan Island group.
I’m not a fool,” Lorenzana said, the report said… So far the weather has been good, so they have no other reason to stay there.” The Philippine defense secretary asked that “these boats should sail out of Umalisna kayo diyan (now leave that place).”
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