Unlawful Mass Gathering of Chinese Maritime Militia Identified in Rozul Reef, as Per Philippines Report
Heads up! The Philippines accuses China's maritime militia of swarming Rozul Reef in the West Philippine Sea, a blatant violation of our sovereignty.
On June 19, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela confirmed over 50 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) boats were swarming Rozul Reef, located roughly 241 kilometers northwest of Palawan. The reef falls within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Tarriela stated that the PCG deployed two vessels and an aircraft on June 18 to investigate the reports of this illegal "swarming". The pattern of the 50 CMM ships varied, with some vessels clustering together while others remained scattered. CMM refers to fishing vessels that operate as force multipliers for the Chinese Navy or coast guard and have been observed in the past to block or harass Philippine vessels.
The PCG broadcast a challenge to the CMM ships over the radio, notifying them of their presence in the Philippines' EEZ. The PCG emphasized that the CMM vessels' behavior violates the principles of freedom of navigation and infringes upon the Philippines' sovereign rights in their EEZ. However, no response was received from the CMM vessels.
The PCG also sent out Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats to get closer to the CMM vessels lurking in the shallow waters of Rozul Reef to record their bow numbers. In 2023, the PCG reported extensive damage to the marine environment of Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal, frequent haunts of CMM ships.
It's crucial to underline the implications here. The West Philippine Sea, rich in natural resources, has seen heavy militarization by China, leading to a series of disputes with neighboring countries. The latest incident once again highlights the tension and, more importantly, the relentless disregard for international law and sovereignty by China.
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- The escalating war-and-conflicts in the West Philippine Sea, such as the recent swarming of Chinese Maritime Militia boats at Rozul Reef, underscores the significance of staying informed on politics and general news.
- The ongoing issues of crime-and-justice, including the disregard for international law by China in the West Philippine Sea, necessitate active participation in discussions on these topics to protect the truth and uphold sovereignty.
