Philippines protests "threatening presence" of Chinese vessels in disputed waters

MANILA, March 22 (Reuters) - The Philippines complained to
China on Monday about what it described as the "swarming and
threatening presence" of Chinese vessels in disputed waters in
the South China Sea and demanded they be withdrawn from the
area.
Philippine officials on Sunday reported about 220 vessels,
believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel,
were seen anchored at the Whitsun Reef, which Manila calls the
Julian Felipe Reef, on March 7. The Chinese Embassy in Manila said on Monday the boats
spotted in Whitsun Reef were fishing vessels and were taking
shelter due to rough sea conditions.
"The continued deployment, lingering presence and activities
of Chinese vessels infringe upon Philippine sovereignty," the
Philippine foreign ministry said in a diplomatic protest.
"Their swarming and threatening presence creates an
atmosphere of instability and is a blatant disregard of the
commitment of China to promote peace and stability in the
region," it said.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila rejected the accusations.
"There is no Chinese maritime militia as alleged. Any
speculation as such helps nothing but causes unnecessary
irritation," it said in a statement.
Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on
Sunday the presence of militia boats in Whitsun Reef was a
"clear provocative action of militarising the area" and urged
China to recall the vessels violating the country's maritime
rights.
An international tribunal invalidated China's claim to 90%
of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing does not recognise
the ruling and has built islands in the disputed waters equipped
with radar, missiles batteries and hangers for fighter jets.
Jay Batongbacal, an expert on the South China Sea at the
University of the Philippines, said President Rodrigo Duterte's
"friendship policy" to move away from Washington and align more
closely with China was to blame for the incursions.
"Whatever opportunities there were for us to slow them down
or stop them they have been lost," Batongbacal said.
China claims almost all of the energy-rich South China Sea,
which is also a major trade route. The Philippines, Brunei,
Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

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