Gov’t concerned over presence of over 200 Chinese vessels in West PH Sea

By Prince Golez

The government remains steadfast in its duty to protect Philippine sovereignty and its sovereign rights in the country’s maritime domain following the reported presence of 220 Chinese maritime militia vessels at Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement on Saturday, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said the Philippines will adhere to the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the South China Sea disputes.

“The government shall continue to peacefully and proactively pursue its initiatives on environmental protection, food security, and freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea as part of its overall national security policy,” according to the NTF-WPS.

The Task Force expressed concern about the confirmed report from the Philippine Coast Guard that around 220 Chinese Fishing Vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were sighted moored in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef on March 7.

“Despite clear weather at the time, the Chinese vessels massed at the reef showed no actual fishing activities and had their full white lights turned on during night time. The NTF-WPS notes this circumstance as a concern due to the possible overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation,” it furthered.

The Reef is a large boomerang shaped shallow coral reef at the northeast of Pagkakaisa Banks and Reefs, located approximately 175 Nautical Miles west of Bataraza, Palawan.

It is within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf, over which the country enjoys the exclusive right to exploit or conserve any resources which encompass both living resources, such as fish, and non-living resources such as oil and natural gas.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)