MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines' top diplomat ordered the filing of another diplomatic protest against China following reports that 240 Chinese vessels linger in the West Philippine Sea.
"[DFA] FIRE A DIPLOMATIC PROTEST NOW," Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. tweeted Wednesday morning, quoting an ABS-CBN News report.
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Locsin, however, admitted that he has not yet received any update from the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) about the latest developments in the West Philippine Sea.
I haven’t heard anything from the fucking NTF-WPS but I’ll take ABS-CBN News’s word for it. Changing my policy of acting only on NTF requests. @DFAPHL FIRE A DIPLOMATIC PROTEST NOW. https://t.co/bW79VzKeNr
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 13, 2021
On Tuesday night, the NTF-WPS reiterated its demand on China to withdraw all its vessels within Philippine exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
"The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea denounces the continuous swarming in the WPS by Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Maritime Militia which are claimed by Chinese authorities to be ordinary fishing vessels," the statement read.
According to the task force, an estimated 240 Chinese vessels are scattered in several features in the territorial waters of Kalayaan, Palawan as of April 11.
Well, short-lived good news. The really bad news is NOT that they’re swarming as a prelude to legal possession—legally impossible; they really are fishing—everything in the water that belongs by law to us: fish, clams, and in such big quantities as to wipe out sustainability. https://t.co/g9Hp8SxMFp
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) April 13, 2021
Illegal fishing
Citing a report from the military's Western Command, the NTF-WPS said 136 Chinese vessels were seen at Burgos (Gaven) Reef, nine at Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef, 65 at Chigua (McKennan) Reef, six at Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, four at Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, one at Likas (West York) Island, five at Kota (Loaita) Island and 11 at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
"A minimum estimate that each can catch one (1) ton of fish amounts to a conservative total of 240,000 kilos of fish illegally taken from Philippine waters every single day that the massed Chinese fishing vessels remain in the West Philippine Sea," the NTF-WPS said.
Such actions are considered illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, it added.
The NTF-WPS also reported that Chinese poachers were seen collecting giant clams near Pag-asa Island but quickly departed when approached by the Philippine Coast Guard.
Militarization
In addition to the coast guard and maritime militia vessels spotted in the area during the government's latest sovereignty patrol, the NTF-WPS said.
Two Houbei class missile warships were located at Panganiban Reef, one Corvette class warship at Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef and one navy tugboat at Zamora Reef were also observed.
The military also spotted two Chinese coast guard vessels near Pag-asa Island, as well as two People's Liberation Army Navy ships, three coast guard and 10 maritime militia vessels at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
"All these warships of the PLA Navy contribute to the militarization of the area," the NTTF-WPS said.
"The continuous swarming of Chinese vessels poses a threat to the safety of navigation, safety of life at sesa, and impedes the exclusive right of Filipinos to benefit from the marine wealth in the EEZ," it added.
Earlier this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to express "displeasure" over the lingering presence of Chinese ships in Julian Felipe Reef.
The DFA said both sides agreed to lower the tensions and "handle the issue diplomatically" but Beijing still refuses to withdraw its ships in the West Philippine Sea.