Manila warned China over a research vessel in the disputed South China Sea waters.
manila: The Philippine Coast Guard said Thursday it deployed aircraft to issue a radio warning to a Chinese research ship that was “swarmed” with ships belonging to Beijing’s so-called maritime militia in a disputed area of the South China Sea.
The Philippine Coast Guard said the research vessel Jiang Yang Hong 33, which is capable of supporting submarine craft, was operating near a reef in the disputed Spratly island chain.
The Chinese ship was deploying a service boat toward Iroquois Reef in the Spratlys on Wednesday when it was spotted by coast guard aircraft, “confirming ongoing unauthorized (marine scientific research) operations,” the statement said.
Iroquois Reef is located at the southern end of the Reed Bank, an area of the Spratlys known to be rich in natural gas and oil.
During the flight, the Manila Coast Guard also spotted 41 “maritime militia ships” anchored in the waters around Iroquois Reef and Philippine-held Thitu Island, which is home to about 400 Filipinos and a new coast guard station.
“The Philippines has not granted such consent to the (People’s Republic of China) for any (marine scientific research) activities in these waters,” the coast guard said.
“The presence of the research vessel and the large-scale swarming by Chinese maritime militia vessels represents a serious infringement on Philippine sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction.”
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Jiang Yang Hong 33, which departed China three weeks ago, has been monitored while conducting surveys near various features claimed by the Philippines in the Spratly chain, including the flashpoint Sabina Shoal and the second Thomas Shoal.
Despite international rulings that its claim has no legal basis, Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, and describes its actions against Philippine vessels as lawful and proportionate.
It is deploying navy, coast guard and maritime militia forces – reportedly targeting Chinese fishing vessels – to block the Philippines from strategically important reefs and islands in the disputed waterway.
