The Philippines said Tuesday (April 13) it had summoned the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines to express its “extreme displeasure” with the recent gathering of a large number of Chinese vessels near disputed islands in the South China Sea, which China calls the South China Sea.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it had summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to the Philippines on Monday. Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Elizabeth P. Buensuceso has informed Huang Xilian that Julian Felipe (known in China as Bull Yoke Reef, or Whitsun Reef) is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and that the continued presence of Chinese vessels near it is “a source of tension in the region.”
Boonsuso also referred to the South China Sea arbitration case, in which the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in July 2016 in the South China Sea arbitration case between the Philippines and China, stating that the historical evidence of China’s claim to sovereignty over the South China Sea and the map of the “nine-dashed line” drawn by China have no legal basis.
The statement added that both the Philippines and China have affirmed that they will use peaceful means of dispute resolution to resolve their differences over the South China Sea issue.
The statement concluded by saying that the Department of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Philippines’ firm demand that China ensure that all vessels immediately leave Julian Felipe Reef and other Philippine waters.
The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has not yet responded to the summoning of Ambassador Huang Xilian.
The Philippine government agency overseeing the disputed area found on March 7 that some 220 Chinese vessels were anchored in the waters around Ngau Yoke Reef. For its part, the Philippines says the reef is entirely within its exclusive economic zone and that it has “exclusive rights to develop or protect any resources. Beijing and Vietnam also claim sovereignty over the reef.
The Philippine government believes the fishing boats were manned by militiamen, but the Chinese deny this and say the boats were only sheltering near the cattle yoke reef.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. tweeted Tuesday that there are still nine Chinese boats near the reef.
The U.S. is supporting the Philippines on the issue. We share the concerns of our Philippine allies about the large number of Chinese maritime militia vessels that have gathered at Whitsun Reef,” U.S. State Department spokesman Price said last week. We have also seen reports that the boats in question have spread to other waters in the South China Sea. We reiterate our strong support for the Philippines and call on China to abide by the final and legally binding award of the 2016 international arbitration under the maritime convention for all parties.”
The U.S. and the Philippines also launched Monday a two-week joint military exercise, Balikatan drills 2021. Philippine Deputy Defense Secretary Cesar Yano said that through this year’s “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” exercises, “we reinvigorate the friendship, partnership and alliance between the Philippines and the United States, a bilateral relationship built on our shared history of support for peace, security and cooperation between nations. Through this year’s “Shoulder to Shoulder” exercise, “we have revitalized the friendship, partnership and alliance between the Philippines and the United States, a bilateral relationship built on our shared history of support for peace, security and cooperation between nations.
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