CREWMEN of Chinese fishing boats that entered the Ayungin Reef on the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in Palawan have allegedly been unloading big ropes and metal structures.
“There are five to eight Chinese fishing boats that entered and are conducting surveys inside our Ayungin Reef. Our latest report is that the Chinese were unloading big ropes and planting metal structures on our reef,” a military officer who spoke in condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on the matter said.
The intrusion was happening as the military leadership was on their second day of a “battle staff” meeting in Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr., Armed Forces spokesman, did not confirm or deny the intrusion and illegal activities of the Chinese on Ayungin Reef.
The reported activities of the intruders were happening amid calls by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on China not to fish on Philippine waters.
The KIG is composed of the islands of Pagasa, Likas, Parola, Lawak, Kota, Patag and Panta, and three reefs called Rizal, Balagtas and Ayungin. The islands and reefs have been constituted as the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan.
The center of KIG’s political power is in Pagasa, which has less than 400 civilian inhabitants. The island has a dilapidated airstrip.
The town is headed by Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon.
Another source said the real intention of the fleet of fishermen sent by China to the Spratly Islands for a “40-day mission” is to fish as there was a “fishing ban” currently imposed by China on the northern part of the South China Sea.
“Since there is a fishing ban on the northern part of the South China Sea they have to go southward, to the Spratly Islands, to fish,” the source said.
Aside from the Philippines and China, other claimants of the Spratly Islands are Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.
The intrusion of the reported 40 Chinese fishing boats into the Spratly Islands is the same strategy China was using in its territorial dispute against Japan.
Just recently, the Japan government reported about the intrusion of 100 Chinese fishing boats on one of the disputed islands that overwhelmed the former’s Coast Guard.
China became more aggressive against the Philippines over the Spratly Islands issue after the latter brought the case for arbitration before the United Nations.
On Wednesday Tutaan said the military leadership is closely monitoring the situation as the Western Command (Westcom) and its naval unit, the Naval Forces West Command (Navforwest), have been alerted on the situation.
The Westcom is headed by Maj. Gen. Rustico Guerrero.
“[The command has to] intensify its [patrol] and monitoring to verify the truthfulness of the reports,” he said.
Tutaan refused to give details about what transpired in the meeting, especially on the deployment of air and naval assets.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, Navy spokesman for issues and concerns involving the West Philippine Sea, said the Navy has a “contingency plan” in case the reported flotilla of Chinese fishing vessels will intrude Philippine territorial waters.
“As of now, it’s too early to comment on what to do if they will enter Philippine territory as that remains to be a contingency [plan] as of the moment. The guidance of higher headquarters is clear: to continue to be vigilant, monitor and report any unusual incidents in the area, which includes intrusions and other illegal activities like fishing on our maritime domain. The Navy being a force provider will act as directed by higher headquarters,” said Arevalo.
Last March this newspaper broke the news about some ships with Chinese markings that were monitored to have entered KIG and reportedly dumped construction materials in one of the islands near the oil-rich Recto Bank. Malacañang confirmed the report but said it was a Chinese fishing vessel.
Last month suspected Chinese fighter jets entered Philippine air space in KIG. The incident was confirmed by authorities but said the aircraft were “unidentified.”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.