China Intends to Occupy More Disputed Areas, Philippines Says
The presence of China’s “maritime militia” near a South China Sea reef shows Beijing’s intent to occupy more disputed areas, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement on Sunday. China has “done this before” in other contested areas like Scarborough Shoal and is “brazenly violating Philippine sovereignty,” Lorenzana said.
He was reacting to a statement from China’s embassy in Manila on Saturday, which described waters around the Whitsun Reef -- where hundreds of Chinese vessels were spotted early last month -- as “traditional fishing grounds” and “part of China’s Nansha Islands.”
Lorenzana’s remarks signal a tougher stance from the Philippines government. It had initially issued a formal diplomatic protest to China over the matter, saying that the ships’ presence raised concerns on overfishing and safety of navigation. In a separate statement on Saturday, Lorenzana also refuted China’s earlier response that those vessels were sheltering from the wind, saying the the weather in the area has been good.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-04/china-intends-to-occupy-more-disputed-areas-philippines-says
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