Philippines-China relations

PMA alumni slam China’s display of ‘hypocrisy’ at Julian Felipe Reef

Jairo Bolledo

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

PMA alumni slam China’s display of ‘hypocrisy’ at Julian Felipe Reef

MOORED. Chinese ships spotted near Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

Photo by NTF-WPS

'It demonstrates nothing more but bad faith in the ongoing negotiations for the proper conduct in these waters,' the PMA Alumni Association and the PMA Retirees Association say in a joint statement

Alumni of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) rallied behind Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as they slammed the continued presence of Chinese ships at Julian Felipe Reef as a display of China’s “hypocrisy” and “bad faith.”

The PMA Alumni Association, Incorporated and the PMA Retirees Association, Incorporated said this in a joint statement, as the Philippines threatened to file diplomatic protests “every day” until the Chinese vessels believed to be manned by China’s maritima militia leave Julian Felipe Reef.

“This illegal encroachment, coupled with the persistent unlawful acts perpetrated by the Chinese over the years in these territorial disputes only further show the hypocrisy by which the latter have conducted themselves. It demonstrates nothing more but bad faith in the ongoing negotiations for the proper conduct in these waters,” said alumni of the Philippines’ premier military academy.

Philippine officials verified the presence of 220 Chinese ships at Julian Felipe Reef on March 7, but the Chinese embassy in Manila claimed that these were merely fishing vessels taking shelter in the reef because of bad weather conditions.

On Saturday, April 4, Lorenzana said the ships should leave immediately since there was no reason for them to remain, sparking a rare word war with China.

Lorenzana is among the PMA graduates in the Duterte cabinet. The President himself has yet to release any statement over the latest Chinese incursion, though his spokesperson, Harry Roque, had said that Duterte supports his defense chief’s position.

“That the acts of the Chinese Embassy in downplaying the issue and subverting the truth are very alarming indeed. The weather conditions in the West Philippine Sea have been fair in the past few days and to claim that the vessels still cannot leave due to rough seas and inclement weather is a blatant lie, hence deplorable,” the PMA alumni said.

PMA alumni slam China’s display of ‘hypocrisy’ at Julian Felipe Reef

Weeks after they were first spotted, the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea said 44 ships are still “moored, anchored, and stationary” at Julian Felipe Reef.

The task force also monitored 115 Chinese vessels in Kenna (Chigua) Reef and 45 vessels in Pag-asa (Thitu) Islands. Fifty Chinese ships were also reportedly dispersed around Panganiban (Mischief), Kagitingan (Fiery), and Zamora (Subi) reefs – all within the Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan.

Also seen were 4 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels in Panganiban Reef, near China’s militarized man-made islands.

Collin Koh Swee Lean, a naval affairs expert from the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies based in Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said that these latest developments and assertions of China in the disputed waters should be challenged. (READ: Why we shouldn’t be complacent about Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe Reef) – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Avatar photo

author

Jairo Bolledo

Jairo Bolledo is a multimedia reporter at Rappler covering justice, police, and crime.