Task Force Responds to China’s Radio Message: Remove Your Militia

A Philippine military plane patrolling the Western Philippine Sea this week spotted dozens of Chinese vessels on various reefs within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and received several radio messages telling it to leave the areas claimed by China.

In response, the National Task Force for the Western Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) demanded on Wednesday that China “immediately withdraw these vessels flying its flag,” noting that they were Chinese maritime militias in waters over which the Philippines had sovereign rights. .

The task force repeated the same claim contained in a formal diplomatic protest filed by Manila on March 21 against the presence of more than 200 Chinese vessels at Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef, within the 370-kilometer Philippine EEZ.

“The NTF-WPS reiterates its assertion of Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the [Kalayaan Island Group] and [WPS], and expresses deep concern about the continued illegal presence (swarm) of the Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM), which did not withdraw and has remained in Julian Felipe Reef and is now located in other areas of the Kalayaan Island Group in Kalayaan Municipality , Palawan, ”the working group said in a statement.

President Duterte himself had spoken with the Chinese ambassador, Huang Xilian, to express the government’s concern about the presence of the large number of Chinese vessels in Julián Felipe. The ambassador said they were just fishing boats seeking shelter from bad weather.

The NTF-WPS reported that 220 militia vessels were first spotted on the reef by the Philippine Coast Guard on March 7. The number dropped to 183 on March 22, then rose to 199 on March 27.

More on other reefs

There were 44 remaining as of Monday, but the task force said more than 100 of these vessels were monitored on other reefs: 115 at Chigua (Kennan) Reef, another 50 scattered around Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Kagitingan (Fiery) Reef and Zamora (Up). ) Arrecife and 45 off the Philippine-occupied island of Pag-asa (Thitu), all part of the Kalayaan island group of the Philippines.

Four Chinese Navy ships were also seen in Panganiban.

China had built artificial islands with land reclaimed from these four reefs and in other parts of the South China Sea that lie within the Philippine EEZ. China has turned them into military outposts, with runways and missile sites.

The Chinese began occupying Panganiban in 1995. It is now the largest of the seven artificial islands built by China.

In 2016, the international arbitral tribunal annulled China’s extensive claims over the South China Sea and ruled that, among other things, Panganiban was part of the Philippine continental shelf. Beijing refused to acknowledge the ruling.

Avoid misunderstandings’

On Tuesday, a Philippine military plane flying over disputed waters with military photographers and several local journalists received at least five messages from a Chinese radio operator telling the pilot to leave the area.

“You are approaching a Chinese reef,” read a radio call. “To avoid any movement that could cause misunderstandings, leave immediately.”

Another message specifically referred to Zamora as a Chinese reef.

The Philippine crew gave a uniform response: “This is a Philippine government aircraft. We are conducting a routine maritime patrol over the Philippine EEZ and are proceeding according to our planned route. “

Major General Edgard Arévalo, a spokesman for the Philippine Armed Forces, said the flyover patrols will continue despite the “radio challenge” from the Chinese.

“It’s not the first time [that it happened]. And those challenges have been common. Therefore, our response is also common, “he said.

He said the military “could not easily say” that the vessels found on the other reefs came from Julián Felipe.

According to the NTF-WPS, the massive training of the Chinese maritime militia is dangerous for navigation and the safety of life at sea.

“They may be carrying out illegal activities at night and their persistent presence (swarm) can cause irreparable damage to the marine environment due to marine pollution and the destruction of coral reefs,” says its statement. “Their swarm also represents a threat to the peaceful exercise of the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its EEZ.”

Hope swarming

The Chinese launched a similar swarm on Pag-asa, the KIG’s largest island occupied by Filipino troops and civilians. Around 140 Chinese ships docked on the island in July 2019 and more than 130 in January-February 2020.

AFP said the presence of Chinese ships near Pag-asa had increased markedly since 2018, after the Philippines began building a docking ramp and a sheltered port on the island.

The NTF-WPS expressed Manila’s appreciation for statements of support from other countries that “share a common adherence to the rules-based order consistent with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as stated by the arbitration award of 2016. “

“Neither the Philippines nor the international community will ever accept China’s assertion of its undisputed integrated sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, part of which is the CMP,” the working group said.

Former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Wednesday that it may now be “imperative” for the Philippines to conduct joint patrols with the United States, its only ally in the defense treaty, “to confront China’s intimidation tactics in the Philippine Sea. Western”.

“We must show the world and especially China that we are a country that will fight for our rights and will be able to enforce our laws in our own EEZ,” he said in a statement.

Del Rosario said Manila and Washington approved an agreement on joint patrols after meetings he held before resigning with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was then undersecretary of state.

But that was brushed aside by President Duterte for fear that China would be “upset,” he said.

Locsin to China

“However, the duplicity and invasion of our waters by China continues unabated despite the efforts of President Duterte to appease China,” added Del Rosario.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on Wednesday that he will visit China this week for talks with the Chinese Foreign Minister.

The Foreign Ministers of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia will also attend the meeting with Wang Yi. —WITH REPORTS FROM JEROME ANING, ROMAR MIRANDA, AND TINA G. SANTOS

Read next