SUMMARY
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The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) reported Wednesday, May 12, that Chinese coast guard ships shadowed and challenged the vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) near the Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales.
This incident which happened on May 4 was among the series of encounters between the two countries inside the West Philippine Sea.
“On 4 May 2021, PCG BRP Sindangan, travelling with BFAR MCS 3005, was illegally shadowed by a CCG vessel and issued two (2) radio challenges while approaching BdM (Bajo de Masinloc),” the NTF-WPS said in a statement.
The PCG and BFAR, along with the armed forces and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, have been conducting inter-agency maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea amid the continuous Chinese incursion.
Meanwhile, the NTF-WPS also reported that Philippine ships again shooed away Chinese vessels roaming in Sabina Shoal near Palawan. BFAR’s MCS 3001 and MCS 3008 ships challenged and dispersed a total of three Chinese maritime militia vessels in the shoal from May 7 to 8.
Last month, the task force reported that Philippine ships also challenged and dispersed Chinese ships in Sabina Shoal on least two occasions between April 27 and 29.
The presence of Chinese ships roaming in Sabina Shoal has been reported as early as 2011. In January 2012, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs summoned China’s charge d’affaires to protest the presence of Chinese ships in the shoal on December 11 and 12, 2011.
Lingering ships
The NTF-WPS said that a total of 287 Chinese Maritime Militia were scattered in different maritime features along the West Philippine Sea as of May 9. Out of the number, 34 Chinese vessels were still moored in the Julian Felipe Reef.
As early as March, the task force reported the presence of over 200 Chinese vessels moored and anchored in the Julian Felipe Reef.
The task force said it has already reported to appropriate national agencies for possible diplomatic actions the recent harassments of the Chinese coast guard and the continuous Chinese incursion in the Philippine maritime features.
On May 3, the Philippines’ foreign affairs department protested the “belligerent actions” by China against the PCG in the West Philippine Sea.
It also condemned the “incessant, illegal, prolonged, and increasing presence of Chinese fishing vessels and maritime militia vessels in the Philippine maritime zones.” – Rappler.com
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