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Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star
June 20, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — More than 50 Chinese maritime militia vessels have swarmed around an empty maritime feature close to Palawan, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman on West Philippine Sea issue Commodore Jay Tarriela said yesterday.
Officers and crew of BRP Cape San Agustin and BRP Cape Engaño, and a patrol aircraft spotted the Chinese vessels “scattered or clustered together” around Rozul or Iroquois Reef, around 130 nautical miles away from the coast of Palawan, last June 18.
The PCG challenged the illegal “swarming and anchoring activities” of the Chinese maritime militia vessels through radio, informing them they “violate the principles of freedom of navigation and infringe upon the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its EEZ” or the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
The Chinese did not respond.
“The Chinese maritime militia vessels were directed to clarify their intentions, cease their swarming behaviors, and navigate in accordance with the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” Tarriela said.
On rigid hulled inflatable boats, the PCG sailed close to some of the Chinese vessels to record their identification based on their bow numbers.
The Chinese maritime militia ships allegedly dropped anchor on the shallow area of Rozul Reef, which could have destroyed corals in the area, according to Tarriela.
He said the Chinese may have sent and parked vessels near the shoal to “assert claims in areas unoccupied by a coastal state, to intimidate Filipino fishermen, or for surveillance and intelligence gathering.”
He said sustained patrol of the two PCG ships in the area would “definitely discourage the Chinese government from deploying more Chinese maritime militia because the international community has been made aware of such a violation.”
Meanwhile, Filipino and US soldiers concluded yesterday their joint land, sea and air war drills in Cagayan Valley under the second phase of Salaknib exercises which began last Monday.
Philippine Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said 1,200 Filipino and US troops from the United States Army Pacific took part in the drills which also involved Special Operations Forces missions, gap crossing, ground assault convoy sustainment, and communication on the move.
Dema-ala said more than 100 “mobility assets” were deployed for ground forces traveling north from Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija to the Bagabag Airstrip in Nueva Vizcaya; Isabela State University Oval in Echague, Isabela; and Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela. Utilized for transport of troops and materiel to drill site in Port Irene in Cagayan were 16 air assets and a US Navy landing craft.
Dema-ala said the joint exercises were in line with the Philippine Army’s strategic thrust to develop an agile force capable of swift deployment across diverse operational scenarios. – Michael Punongbayan
