Philippines files new diplomatic protests over Chinese boats in disputed waters

MANILA, April 14 (Reuters) - The Philippines filed fresh
diplomatic protests to China on Wednesday after accusing its
giant neighbour of undertaking illegal fishing and massing more
than 240 boats within the Southeast Asian country's territorial
waters.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said that two
protests had been lodged, days after Manila summoned Chinese
Ambassador Huang Xilian to press for the withdrawal of its
vessels on the disputed Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea and
other Philippine maritime zones. The Philippines last month described the presence of over
200 boats believed to be manned by militias inside its 200 mile
(322 km) exclusive economic zone as "swarming and threatening",
while the United States, Japan and others have voiced concern
about China's intentions, prompting rebukes by Beijing.
In a Twitter post, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said:
"they really are fishing everything in the water that belongs by
law to us."
A Philippine government taskforce said the vessels, which
are about 60 metres (197 ft) in length, can catch a tonne of
fish a day. It said 240 were in various areas in Philippine
waters as of Sunday, including nine at Whitsun Reef.
"The continuous swarming of Chinese vessels poses a threat
to the safety of navigation, safety of life at sea, and impedes
the exclusive right of Filipinos to benefit from the marine
wealth in the EEZ," the task force said in a statement late on
Monday.
China's embassy in Manila and the foreign ministry in
Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Chinese diplomats have previously said the Whitsun reef was
part of its traditional fishing grounds, and that vessels were
taking shelter from rough seas and did not have militia aboard.
Since coming to power in 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte has
criticised U.S. foreign policy and sought to improve ties with
Beijing, but China's maritime assertiveness has put him in a
difficult spot at times.
The Philippine navy planned to deploy three more ships in
the South China Sea.
"We have to understand that to say that one area is ours, we
have to be there," army spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo
said.