Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 12 Dec 2022, 12:31 am Print
China-Philippines Image: Representational image by Indian Navy via Wikimedia Commons
Manila: A maritime expert believes that Chinese maritime militia vessels posing as fishing boats are edging closer to Palawan as part of a ploy to restrict access by Filipinos to key areas in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Jay Batongbacal, a maritime law professor at the University of the Philippines, on Wednesday told Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network the Chinese maritime militia anchored at Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal could quickly interdict Philippine ships sailing out to fish, resupplying Filipino military outposts or exploring for oil and gas off Palawan.
“These vessels are therefore part of Chinese activities to eventually cut the Philippines off from the West Philippine Sea,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday in reaction to the Inquirer’s report on the “swarming presence” of Chinese militia vessels at Iroquois and Sabina.
The reef and the shoal are located within the country’s 370-kilometre exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
It is located much closer to Palawan than Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef.
- NASA is giving you a chance to send name to the Moon, check the last date of submitting your application
- Israel-US alliance 'never been stronger', Netanyahu says as State Secretary Rubio visit for talks
- US: FBI arrest two men in Utah for allegedly placing incendiary device under news media vehicle
- Time for being soft on illegal immigrant criminals is over: US President Trump's reacts to beheading of Indian-origin man in Dallas
- Unknown miscreants destroy newly built pipeline in Pakistan's Chagai, police begin probe
