UPDATE 2-Philippines protests 'threatening presence' of Chinese vessels in disputed waters

(Adds U.S. State Department spokesman)
MANILA, March 22 (Reuters) - The Philippines complained to
China on Monday about what it called a "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China Sea and demanded they be withdrawn from the area.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 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 they were fishing vessels
taking shelter from rough seas.
"The continued deployment, lingering presence and activities
of Chinese vessels infringe upon Philippine sovereignty," the
Philippine foreign ministry said in a diplomatic protest, adding
"their swarming and threatening presence creates an
atmosphere of instability."
The Chinese Embassy 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 called the
presence of militia vessels a "clear provocative action of
militarising the area" and urged China to recall them.
The U.S. Embassy said the Chinese boats had been mooring in
the area for many months in increasing numbers, regardless of
the weather.
In a tweet, State Department spokesman Ned Price said
Washington "stands with our ally, the Philippines, regarding
concerns about the gathering of (Chinese) maritime militia
vessels near Whitsun Reef.
"We call on Beijing to stop using its maritime militia to
intimidate and provoke others, which undermines peace and
security," he said. 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 disputed waters equipped
with radar, missiles batteries and hangers for fighter jets.
Jay Batongbacal, a South China Sea expert 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.

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Overlapping claims in the South China Sea https://tmsnrt.rs/2PcxjTY
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