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About 220 Chinese militia ships anchored in an area in the South China Sea on March 7 – Photo: REUTERS
Leaf Investigator On March 21, it quoted the Western Philippine Sea National Task Force (NTF) (as the Philippines calls the South China Sea) as saying that it had received a report from the coast guard about the arrival of 220 Chinese ships to an area in the South China Sea. March 7th.
The ships were anchored in rows on a reef and appeared to be manned by Chinese militiamen.
The force said the situation is worrying due to the risk that these boats will overfish, destroy the marine environment and threaten safe navigation in the upstream waters.
However, “despite the clear weather at the time, the Chinese boats gathered on the reef were not really fishing and turned on all the white lights at night,” the NTF said.
Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin said the same day that he was waiting for an order to formally protest the incident.
“I am awaiting orders and coordination from Mr. Esperon and Lorenzana. I am opposed on Sunday,” Locsin said, referring to National Security Advisor Hermógenes Esperon and Defense Minister Delfín Lorenzana.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Manila have not responded to a call from the Reuters news agency about the incident.
In January 2021, the Philippines also opposed China’s new maritime police law, which allowed it to open fire on foreign ships. Manila calls this a “war threat.”
