MANILA, Philippines- Iniulat ng Philippine Navy na may 260 Chinese vessels, kabilang na ang warships, ang namataan sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) ngayong buwan ng Pebrero.
Sinabi ni Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS, kabilang sa kanilang namataan ay ang siyam na China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels malapit sa Bajo de Masinloc at pitong iba pa sa Ayungin Shoal. Idagdag pa rito ang dalawang People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships ang nakita sa mga nasabig lugar.
“For the month of February, a total of 260 different ships were monitored all over the WPS, especially our features,” ang sinabi ni Trinidad.
Sa kabilang dako, todo-depensa naman si Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun sa presensya ng Chinese vessels sa loob ng Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), sinabi nito na ang soberanya ng Tsina at maritime rights sa South China Sea ay nakaugat sa ‘historical claims at international law.’
“Let me reiterate that China’s sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history and are solidly grounded in history and law, compliant with international law and practice,” ang sinabi ni Guo.
Iginiit pa rin nito na ang CCG ay nagsagawa ng patrols at law enforcement operations sa lugar alinsunod sa Chinese law, sabay sabing ang aksyon na ito ay “fully justified.”
“We call on the Philippines once again to immediately stop all infringement activities, provocations, and false accusations, and cease all actions that jeopardize peace and stability or complicate the situation in the South China Sea,” pahayag ng opisyal. Kris Jose
