Makabayan bloc wants House probe on Chinese vessels in West PH Sea reef

Around 220 Chinese militia vessels were spotted moored at Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea last March 7, 2021. (NTF WPS)

MANILA, Philippines – The Makabayan bloc is seeking an investigation by the House of Representatives on the presence of over 200 Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

Members of the Makabayan bloc filed House Resolution No. 1675, which calls on the House Committee on National Defense and Security to conduct the probe.

In its resolution, the Makabayan bloc said that despite the Philippines’ historical win over its claims in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) in July 2016, the Duterte administration “took a passive stance over the matter unlike other countries with claims” on the disputed waters.

“The failure of the Duterte administration to protect the country’s territorial integrity resulted in the loss of livelihood of many Filipino fisherfolk. With the continuing harassment by the China Coast Guard and the Chinese deployment of maritime militias, Filipinos were deprived of the natural resources in its own territory,” the resolution read.

It was the Philippine Coast Guard who first reported that it spotted 220 Chinese vessels believed to be “manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel” near the reef in the West Philippine Sea.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. later said the Philippines sent a diplomatic protest over China’s latest incursion. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also called on China to stop its incursion in the West Philippine Sea.

But China has denied the alleged presence of maritime militia—and apparently defied the diplomatic protest filed by the Philippines, as reconnaissance flights by the Western Command showed the vessels still at the Julian Felipe Reef.

/MUF