https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...more-south-china-sea-areas-idUSKBN2BR07O?il=0 April 4, 2021 By Reuters Staff MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines’ defence chief said on Sunday China was looking to occupy more areas in the South China Sea, citing the continued presence of Chinese vessels that Manila believes are manned by militias in disputed parts of the strategic waterway. “The continued presence of Chinese maritime militias in the area reveals their intent to further occupy (areas) in the West Philippine Sea,” Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement, using the local name for the South China Sea. It was the second hostile statement by Lorenzana in two days as he repeated calls by the Philippines for the Chinese boats to leave Whitsun Reef, which Manila calls the Julian Felipe Reef, located within its 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Chinese diplomats have said the boats anchored near the reef - numbering more than 200 based on initial intelligence gathered by Philippine patrols - were sheltering from rough seas and that no militia were aboard. On Saturday, Lorenzana said there were still 44 Chinese vessels at Whitsun Reef despite improved weather conditions. “I am no fool. The weather has been good so far, so they have no reason to stay there,” he said. The Chinese Embassy in Manila responded to Lorenzana’s comments, saying it was “completely normal” for Chinese vessels to fish in the area and take shelter near the reef during rough sea conditions. It added, “Nobody has the right to make wanton remarks on such activities.” An international tribunal invalidated China’s claim to 90% of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing does not recognise the ruling and has built artificial islands in the disputed waters equipped with radar, missiles batteries and hangars for fighter jets. “They have done this (occupy disputed areas) before at Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc and at Panganiban Reef, brazenly violating Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights under international law,” Lorenzana said in his Sunday statement.
Armed Chinese Ships Chase Philippines’ News Crew in Disputed Sea Philip J. Heijmans, Bloomberg News (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. and Philippines have expressed concern over China’s decision to mass militia vessels in the South China Sea, as a Filipino civilian ship carrying local journalists reported it had been chased down by armed Chinese navy vessels while sailing within its own exclusive economic zone on Thursday. Local broadcaster ABS-CBN claims the People’s Liberation Army Navy deployed two vessels carrying missiles to drive away the ship as it traveled across reefs and shoals close to the western island province of Palawan. The report adds it was the first recorded instance of a military maneuver against a civilian boat. After being spotted by a coast guard vessel, their ship was radioed and then pursued for an hour, “getting so close that bow number 5101 was visible to the naked eye, sometimes sailing beside the Filipino vessel on either side,” according to the report. It then turned away, only for two Houbei-class missile boats to show up moments later......
Philippines sold out their sovereignty to China when they have already won a court case against China? In addition, Duterte, the Philippine President, told the US to bug off and he will handle the Chinese. So, the idiot got a few Chinese loans that he has pay back with interest? Now, how is that coming along? Now, he wants more monies from the US for a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines that benefits the Philippines more? US just gave the Philippines 50 brand new APCs for free plus hundreds of millions more in US aid? He says the US presence puts the Philippines at risk? So, why ask the US to protect the Philippines then? Do it yourself. Yeah, China is not going to mess with the Philippines right? They will just send their troops in and raise the Chinese communist red flag.