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China claims ownership of South China Sea reef where fishing boats massed
The embassy's statement competes directly with the Philippines' position that the area lies within its exclusive economic zone. The islands are claimed by China and the Philippines, among other nations.
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Sea tension: Filipino fishermen sail past US coastguard ship Bertholf during a joint exercise between Philippine and US coastguards near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on May 14, 2019. Philippine coastguard ships BRP Batangas and Kalanggaman participated in the exercise, which was monitored by two Chinese coastguard ships. (AFP/Ted Aljibe)
T
he Chinese Embassy in Manila said Monday a coral reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea around which about 220 Chinese fishing boats had massed earlier this month is part of China.
The embassy's statement competes directly with the Philippines' position that the area lies within its exclusive economic zone. The islands are claimed by China and the Philippines, among other nations.
While the Philippines suspects Chinese maritime militias are on such boats, the statement rejected the claim. "There is no Chinese Maritime Militia as alleged. Any speculation in such helps nothing but causes unnecessary irritation."
The statement also justified the boats' presence in the disputed waters, saying that Chinese fishing vessels have been fishing in adjacent waters for years and that some of them have recently taken shelter near the reef due to "rough sea conditions."
"It has been a normal practice for Chinese fishing vessels to take shelter under such circumstances," it added.
On March 7, the Philippines' coast guard spotted about 220 Chinese fishing boats moored, in formation, 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza on Palawan Island in the western Philippines.
According to Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Philippines' military, the fishing boats were still moored in the area on Monday, and work is under way to count exactly how many are there.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and has overlapping territorial claims with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.
