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Philippines sends fighter aircraft over Chinese vessels in South China Sea

Published 03/28/2021, 11:43 AM
Updated 03/28/2021, 11:50 AM
© Reuters.

MANILA, March 28 (Reuters) - The Philippine military is
sending light fighter aircraft to fly over hundreds of Chinese
vessels in disputed waters in the South China Sea, its defence
minister said, as he repeated his demand the flotilla be
withdrawn immediately.
International concern is growing over what the Philippines
has described as a "swarming and threatening presence" of more
than 200 Chinese vessels that Manila believes were manned by
maritime militia.
The boats were moored at the Whitsun Reef within Manila's
200-mile exclusive economic zone. The Philippine military aircraft were sent daily to monitor
the situation, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a
statement late on Saturday.
Lorenzana said the military will also beef up its naval
presence in the South China Sea to conduct "sovereignty patrols"
and protect Filipino fishermen.
"Our air and sea assets are ready to protect our sovereignty
and sovereign rights," Lorenzana said.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond
to a request for comment. It has said the vessels at Whitsun
Reef were fishing boats taking refuge from rough seas and that
there were no militia aboard.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reaffirmed to China's
ambassador, Huang Xilian, the Philippines had won a landmark
arbitration case in 2016, which made clear its sovereign
entitlements amid rival claims by China, his spokesman said last
week. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Vietnam
have competing territorial claims in the South China Sea,
through which at least $3.4 trillion of annual trade passes.


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