Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 4) — A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official on Monday cited several reasons behind the swarming of over 135 Chinese maritime militia vessels at Julian Felipe Reef on Dec. 2.
The PCG reported the incident on Sunday, noting the number increased from 125 last month. These were monitored around the low-tide elevation of the Kalayaan Island Group located 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan, still within the country’s 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said most of these maritime militia are also deployed at Ayungin Shoal as a reinforcement for Beijing’s coast guard vessels to interfere with Manila’s resupply mission. It is also possible that these Chinese maritime militia vessels are occupying particular maritime features to be able to carry out reclamation activities, he added.
Tarriela also said Beijing may be only showing off its capabilities.
Based on footage collected, the PCG official said it appears the ships do not have any crew manning them. Once the Chinese ships leave, Philippine authorities discover massive coral damage, he noted.
Tarriela said videos of Chinese ships they collect will be continuously published for transparency amid the growing tensions in the disputed waters.
“We know everytime we expose them and they are being criticized, not just here domestically in our country but by the international community for their illegal actions… the People’s Republic of China eventually withdraws their Chinese maritime militia,” he said.
