The Philippine army said on Tuesday that it had monitored more than 200 Chinese ships in several areas of the exclusive economic area of Manila at the Southern China Sea in last week – the greatest number recorded this year.
According to Philippin officials, the majority of ships and boats were spotted near Sabina (Escoda) Shoal, a disputed reef and a scene of an incident on August 31 where Manila accused the Chinese Coast Guard of unraveling in a ship of the Philippine Coast Guard at least three times.
“We can attribute the overvoltage [of Chinese vessels] For the attention paid to Sabina / Escoda Shoal in recent weeks, “said counter-admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson for the Philippine West Sea.
Manila calls for the waters of the southern China Sea in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) The Western Philippines Sea. An EZE gives an exclusive coastal state of the rights up to 200 miles from its coast to regulate fishing activities, as well as explore and exploit natural resources in the waters of the area, the seabed and the subsoil, according to the United Nations Convention on the Act of the Sea, or UNCLOS.
Sixty and eleven Chinese ships were watched in Sabina Shoal, from August 27 to September 2, against 53 the previous week, officials said. Chinese ships included 53 maritime militia boats, nine navy ships and nine coastal guard ships, according to Trinidad.
Sabina Shoal, a reef located at 75 naval miles (140 km) from the Philippine Island of Palawan, was the site of maritime confrontations between the Philippin and Chinese staff in recent weeks.
The last one took place on Saturday, when Manila blamed a ship from the Chinese Coast Guard for struck the BRP Teresa Magbanua, a Coast Guard Filipino’s ship deployed in the loudspeaker since April, in the midst of the reports that Beijing could try to recover land there.
China has repeatedly accused the Philippines of “illegally founding” the BRP Teresa Magbanua of “occupying” the Biggish, which the Chinese call Xianbin Jiao.
“The Philippines sent his Coast Guard ship to the Xianbin Jiao lagoon who has been illegally anchored there for several days now and an attempt to permanently occupy the region. This is the deep cause of the current climbing situation in Xianbin Jiao,” said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese ministry on Monday.
“The measures taken by China at Xianbin Jiao [on Saturday were] aimed at protecting its territorial sovereignty and its maritime rights and interests. They [were] fully legitimate and legitimate. »»
In addition to the Chinese ships grouped around Sabina Shoal, Trinidad said that 52 others had been watched on the island of Thitu (PAG-ASA) occupied by the Philippines during the same period, against 35 the previous week.
There were also 26 Chinese vessels in the second half-found Thomas (Ayungin) during the same period, against only 23 the previous week, said Trinidad.
According to Scarbois, Scarbois, Scarboigh Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag), Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Island), the island of Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag), the island of Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag), the island of Loaita (Kota) and the Commodore (Rizal).
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Beijing’s presence in the territories in the Manila’s ZEE is illegal, said Trinidad.
He said that the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Armed Forces “would continue to execute its mandate to protect our territory while we confirm international law and contribute to regional peace and stability”.
The Philippines and China are locked in a dispute of several years concerning the Sea of Southern China and Gasere of minerals and gas.
China refused to take into account a historic verdict of an international court, which ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016 and said that there was no evidence to support Beijing’s assertion.
The recent maritime and air confrontations between Manila and Beijing have occurred despite the two parties that agreed to compose tensions in the Southern China Sea in July.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have territorial affirmations in the strategic navigable path.
Jeoffrey Maitem and Jojo Riñoza in Manila contributed to this report.
Benarnews is an online media affiliated with the FRG.