U.S. Rips China 'Maritime Militia,' Backs Philippines in Row
(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. expressed concerns over the presence of more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels near a disputed South China Sea reef, saying Beijing uses “maritime militia to intimidate, provoke and threaten other nations.”
Chinese boats “have been mooring in this area for many months in ever increasing numbers, regardless of the weather,” the U.S. embassy in the Philippines said in a statement. China earlier said that its vessels near Whitsun Reef were sheltering from the wind.
“We stand with the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia,” the U.S. Embassy said. Manila has filed a diplomatic protest with China, and called for the Chinese vessels to immediately leave what it considers part of its exclusive economic zone.
The Chinese vessels “blatantly infringe upon Philippine sovereignty” and the nation demands that China “direct its fishing vessels to desist from environmentally destructive activities,” the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a separate statement Tuesday.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-rips-china-maritime-militia-backs-philippines-in-row/ar-BB1eREOc?li=BBnb7Kz
