https://arab.news/m98vw
- Chinese Coast Guard last week intercepted Philippine patrol ships
- Beijing builds up military presence in disputed South China Sea
MANILLA: More than 100 Chinese vessels have been spotted in the Philippine part of the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Wednesday, amid growing tensions over the disputed waters.
The vessels, first spotted around the third week of April in the Spratly Islands area, consisted of 鈥淐hinese maritime militia鈥� and two ships from the Chinese Coast Guard, which the Philippines last week accused of 鈥渄angerous maneuvers鈥� and 鈥渁ggressive tactics鈥� after they intercepted Philippine patrol boats on duty in Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal.
鈥淏ased on our monitoring, the Chinese Coast Guard vessels remain in Ayungin Shoal ... There are still more than 100 Chinese maritime militia in Julian Felipe (Whitsun Reef),鈥� PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a televised briefing.
鈥淏esides the dangerous maneuvers that they carry out against Philippine Coast Guard vessels, there are also their persistent radio challenges 鈥� They were calling and saying that we are intruding into their waters and are directing us to depart, to leave immediately the maritime features that we usually patrol.鈥�
China claims sovereignty over almost the entirety of the South China Sea based on its so-called 鈥渘ine-dash line鈥� stretching more than 1,500 kilometers off its mainland and cutting into the exclusive economic zones of several countries, including the Philippines.
In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague dismissed the expansive Chinese claim of the waters, but Beijing did not recognize the ruling and has in recent years rapidly developed its military presence by building artificial island bases in the contested waters.
The latest developments come at a time of growing geopolitical tension over China鈥檚 increasing presence in the region and as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is visiting Washington 鈥� Manila鈥檚 long-time military ally.
US President Joe Biden said during his meeting with Marcos on Monday that America 鈥渞emains ironclad in our commitment to the defense of the Philippines, including the South China Sea.鈥�
China鈥檚 increasing presence in the disputed maritime territory has also in recent days sparked concerns from France and Australia, with the former鈥檚 embassy in Manila saying it was 鈥渙pposed to any action that increases tensions and jeopardizes regional stability,鈥� and the latter鈥檚 envoy calling on China to respect the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in its activity.