China said the presence of maritime militia boats in Julian Felipe Reef is “justified and lawful” after the Philippines recently spotted over 130 Chinese vessels over the area.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday evening in a press conference that Julian Felipe Reef, which he called Niu’e Jiao, was part of China’s Nansha Qundao.
“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,” the Chinese official said.
“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,” he added.
The Chinese official reiterated his country’s claim after the Philippine Coast Guard on Sunday reported that more than 135 Chinese maritime militia had been monitored off Julian Felipe Reef.
“No response was made to the radio challenges issued by the PCG to the CMM vessels which is now estimated to have grown to more than 135 vessels dispersed and scattered within Julian Felipe Reef,” the PCG said.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, considered the swarming of vessels near Julian Felipe Reef “appalling… but not surprising.”
“We have seen this before,” said Hontiveros.
She recalled that over 200 ships in 2021 were moored near Julian Felipe Reef as she urged the Philippines to file a diplomatic protest.
Julian Felipe Reef is located 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan, according to the PCG. It is considered a low tide elevation in the Kalayaan Island Group, over which the Philippines has sovereignty, it added.
The United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating Beijing’s massive claims in the South China Sea, saying China’s nine-dash line had no legal basis under international law. Beijing rejected the ruling.
Hontiveros accused China of planning to invade Philippine territories.
“It is indeed clear that they started the chaos and not us,” she said. “No matter how many times our government and the international community condemn China’s illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea, Beijing simply does not listen.”
“We should be doing more than firing off a diplomatic protest. We have to execute actionable on-the-ground steps to prevent the Chinese from reclamation and base-building activities in Julian Felipe,” she added. With Macon Ramos-Araneta