The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed that Chinese vessels remain on the waters near the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea even after Department of Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr. filed a diplomatic protest.
AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said that a maritime patrol saw around 183 vessels, believed to be part of the Chinese maritime militia, in the area.
Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Delfin Lorenzana has expressed concern over the presence of the Chinese vessels within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
"This is a clear provocative action of militarizing the area," Lorenzana said in a statement.
"These are territories well within Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf (CS) where Filipinos have the sole right to resources under international law and the 2016 arbitral ruling," he added.
The DND chief urged China to stop the incursion on the territory of the Philippines, and to recall the vessels.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila, meanwhile, said that the boats in Julian Felipe Reef, which the mission called Niu'e Jiao, are fishing vessels taking shelter due to rough sea conditions.
"It has been a normal practice for Chinese fishing vessels to take shelter under such circumstances," the embassy said in a statement.
"There is no Chinese Maritime Militia as alleged. Any speculation in such helps nothing but causes unnecessary irritation. It is hoped that the situation could be handled in an objective and rational manner," the embassy added.
The mission also said that Niu'e Jiao is part of Nansha Qundao of China, and Chinese vessels have been fishing in its adjacent waters for many years.
