Philippines and Vietnam press China over vessels massing in South China Sea

Philippines and Vietnam press China over vessels massing in South China Sea
Chinese vessels anchored at the Whitsun Reef, in the South China Sea, on March 23, 2021.
PHOTO: Maxar Technologies

MANILA - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte expressed concern to China’s ambassador about Chinese vessels massing in the South China Sea, his spokesman said, as Vietnam urged Beijing to respect its maritime sovereignty. 

International concern has grown in recent days over what the Philippines has described as a "swarming and threatening presence" of more than 200 vessels that it believes were manned by maritime militia.

The boats were moored at the Whitsun Reef within Manila’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.  

"The President said we are really concerned. Any country will be concerned with that number of ships," Mr Duterte's spokesman, Mr Harry Roque, told a regular news conference when asked about the meeting.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Vietnam have competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, through which at least US$3.4 trillion (S$4.6 trillion) of annual trade passes. 

Mr Roque said Mr Duterte reaffirmed to China's ambassador, Mr Huang Xilian, that the Philippines had won a landmark arbitration case in 2016, which made clear its sovereign entitlements amid competing claims by China.

China's maritime assertiveness has put Mr Duterte in an awkward spot throughout his presidency because of his praise and controversial embrace of Beijing and reluctance to speak out against it. 

He has instead accused close ally the United States of creating conflict in the South China Sea. 

China’s embassy in Manila did not respond to a request for comment on Mr Duterte’s meeting. 

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On Wednesday (March 24) it said the vessels at Whitsun Reef were fishing boats taking refuge from rough seas.

A Philippine military spokesman said China's defence attache had denied there were militia aboard.

Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang on Thursday (March 25) said the Chinese vessels at the reef, which Hanoi calls Da Ba Dau, had infringed on its sovereignty. 

"Vietnam requests that China stop this violation and respect Vietnam’s sovereignty," Ms Hang told a regular briefing. 

A Vietnamese coastguard vessel could be seen moored near the disputed area on Thursday, according to ship tracking data published by by the Marine Traffic website. 

Ms Hang said Vietnam’s coastguard was "exercising its duties as regulated by laws", including international law.

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