Greater than 135 Chinese language vessels seen close to Whitsun Reef within the South China Sea, the Philippines coastguard says.
Greater than 135 Chinese language vessels have been “swarming” a reef off the coast of the Philippines within the South China Sea, the Philippines coastguard mentioned on Sunday, amid renewed tensions between the 2 international locations.
Coastguard officers described the rising variety of boats off the coast of Whitsun Reef, which the Philippines calls Julian Felipe Reef, as an “alarming development”, on Sunday.
The variety of Chinese language maritime vessels has elevated prior to now few weeks. When the coastguard deployed two patrol boats to the realm, officers famous the quantity had elevated to 135 boats, from the counted 111 on November 13.
“No response was made to the radio challenges issued by the PCG [Philippines Coast Guard] to the CMM vessels which is now estimated to have grown to more than 135 vessels dispersed and scattered within Julian Felipe Reef,” the Manila’s coastguard mentioned.
The Chinese language boats have been “dispersed and scattered” throughout the boomerang-shaped Whitsun Reef greater than 1,000km (620 miles) from the closest main Chinese language landmass of Hainan island, and round 320km (200 miles) west of Palawan island of the Philippines.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, together with waters and islands near the shores of its neighbours, and has ignored a global tribunal determination that its assertion has no authorized foundation.
The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have additionally staked claims to numerous islands and reefs within the sea, which is believed to have wealthy petroleum reserves deep beneath its waters.
This 12 months, China and the Philippines have been concerned in quite a few incidents, with Manila accusing Beijing of creating aggressive efforts to say its declare to virtually your complete South China Sea below its so-called nine-dash line.
Earlier this month, the 2 international locations’ ships have been concerned in near collisions near Second Thomas Shoal, which additionally lies inside Manila’s unique financial zone (EEZ). Underneath the United Nations Conference on the Regulation of the Sea (UNCLOS), that zone extends 200 nautical miles (about 370km) from a rustic’s coast.
The Philippines took its case to the Everlasting Courtroom of Arbitration in The Hague, when China seized management of Scarborough Shoal.
Though the courtroom dominated within the favour of the Philippines, Beijing didn’t recognise the ruling and stepped up its claims to the waters constructing synthetic islands, increasing navy outposts and deploying its coastguard, maritime militia and fishing fleet.
