Philippines’ Defense Chief Says Beijing Intends to Occupy More South China Sea Areas

Philippines’ Defense Chief Says Beijing Intends to Occupy More South China Sea Areas
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana answer questions during a Reuters interview at the military headquarters of Camp Aquinaldo in Quezon city, metro Manila, Philippines, on Feb. 9, 2017. Romeo Ranoco/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

MANILA—The Philippines’ defense chief says Beijing is looking to occupy more areas in the South China Sea, citing the continued presence of Chinese vessels that Manila believes are manned by militias in disputed parts of the strategic waterway.

“The continued presence of Chinese maritime militias in the area reveals their intent to further occupy (areas) in the West Philippine Sea,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in an April 4 statement, using the local name for the South China Sea.

It was the second statement by Lorenzana in two days as he repeated calls by the Philippines for the Chinese boats to leave Whitsun Reef, which Manila calls the Julian Felipe Reef, located within its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Chinese diplomats have said the boats anchored near the reef—numbering more than 200, based on initial intelligence gathered by Philippine patrols—were sheltering from rough seas and that no militia were aboard.

Some of the 220 Chinese vessels are seen moored at Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea on March 7, 2021. (Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea via AP)
Some of the 220 Chinese vessels are seen moored at Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea on March 7, 2021. Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea via AP

On April 3, Lorenzana said there were still 44 Chinese vessels at Whitsun Reef, despite improved weather conditions.

“I am no fool. The weather has been good so far, so they have no reason to stay there,” he said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila responded to Lorenzana’s comments, saying it was “completely normal” for Chinese vessels to fish in the area and take shelter near the reef during rough sea conditions. It added, “Nobody has the right to make wanton remarks on such activities.”

An international tribunal invalidated Beijing’s claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea in 2016, but the Chinese Communist Party said it does not recognize the ruling and has built artificial islands in the disputed waters equipped with radar, missiles batteries, and hangars for fighter jets.

“They have done this (occupy disputed areas) before at Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc and at Panganiban Reef, brazenly violating Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights under international law,” Lorenzana said in his statement.