MANILA, Philippines- Iginiit ng China nitong Lunes na “justified and lawful” ang operasyon ng maritime militia boats nito sa West Philippine Sea.
Sa isang press briefing, tumugon si Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wengbin rsa tanong ukol sa 135 Chinese militia vessels na namataan sa Julian Felipe Reef.
“Niu’e Jiao is part of China’s Nansha Qundao. Relevant waters of the South China Sea, including Niu’e Jiao and its adjacent waters, have always been important operating areas and shelters for Chinese fishing boats. It is justified and lawful for Chinese fishing boats to operate or shelter from wind in the area, and the Philippines is in no position to make irresponsible remarks,” giit niya.
Iniualt ng Philippine Coast Guard nitong Linggo na na-monitor nito ang 111 Chinese vessels sa lugar noong November 13. Kalaunan ay naging 125 ito, at pagsapit ng December 2, nakita ng Philippine authorities ang mahigit 135 vessels sa lugar.
Dahil dito, initasan ni National Security Adviser and Chair of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, General Eduardo Año, ang PCG na magsagawa ng maritime patrol sa teritoryo.
Nitong Sabado, idineploy ni PCG Commandant Coast Guard Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ang PCG vessels BRP Sindangan at BRP Cabra sa lugar. Nag-isyu ang PCG ng radio challenges sa Chinese vessels subalit wala itong nakuhang tugon.
“No response was made to the radio challenges issued by the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) to the CMM vessels which is now estimated to have grown to more than 135 vessels dispersed and scattered within Julian Felipe Reef,” anang Coast Guard.
Inihayag ng Philippine government na magpapadala ito ng Coast Guard vessel sa lugar bilang tugon sa pagkukumpulan ng Chinese vessels.
Inaangkin ng Beijing ang malaking bahagi ng South China Sea, at patuloy na binabalewala ang desisyon ng international tribunal na bumabasura sa claim nito. RNT/SA
