Philippines protests hundreds of Chinese ships around disputed island
April 3, 2019 · By Brad Lendon, CNN for edition.cnn.com
Hong Kong (CNN) – The Philippines government has filed a diplomatic protest with China over the presence of hundreds of Chinese vessels near a Philippines-administered island in the South China Sea.
As many as 275 Chinese ships and boats have been spotted this year around Thitu island, also known as Pag-asa island in the Philippines, said Jason Ramon, chief of public affairs for the Philippine military’s western command, to CNN Philippines.
Armed forces spokesperson Edgard Arevalo cautioned that it was difficult to quantify how many ships are around the island at any one time, as Chinese vessels “come and go” from the area. “The information that we got is the more likely intention is to establish their presence in the area,” he told CNN Philippines on Monday.
Besides the Philippines, China, Taiwan and Vietnam have also laid claim to Thitu. It has a civilian population of more than 100, as well as some military personnel, according to the Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative.
The island is about 500 kilometers (310 miles) from Palawan, one of the main Philippine islands, which will be hosting exercises between the US and Philippine militaries in the next two weeks.
Manila has been in an awkward dance between Beijing and Washington for years over the South China Sea.
Under the previous government of Benigno Aquino, Manila won a landmark case against China at an international tribunal, which ruled that many of Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea were unlawful.
However, the administration under current President Rodrigo Duterte has moved closer to Beijing, even as the president voiced concerns about China’s territorial ambitions.
