Philippines reports ‘illegal swarming’ of Chinese maritime militia in Rozul Reef 

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

At least 50 Chinese fishing vessels – the kind that typically moves in coordination with China’s navy and coast guard – loiter in Rozul Reef, according to the Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday, June 19, that over 50 Chinese maritime militia (CMM) ships have “swarmed” Rozul Reef, a feature in the West Philippine Sea. 

In a statement to media, PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said two PCG vessels and one aircraft were deployed on June 18 to verify reports of “illegal swarming.”

The 50 CMM vessels were “both scattered and clustered together,” according to the PCG. CMM refers to fishing vessels that serve as force multipliers for the Chinese Navy or coast guard. In the past, these vessels were observed to move in coordination with China’s maritime forces in blocking and harassing Philippine vessels. 

Tarriela said PCG vessels and aicraft issued a challenge to the CMM ships via radio “notifying them that they were operating within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 130 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan.”

“The PCG emphasized that the irregular patterns of movement, along with their anchoring and swarming activities, violate the principles of freedom of navigation and infringe upon the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its EEZ,” Tarriela said.

“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 (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award. Unfortunately, no response was received from the CMM vessels,” he added.

The PCG also deployed Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats to get closer to the CMMs vessels loitering in the shallow waters of Rozul or Iroqouis Reef to record their bow numbers.  

In 2023, the PCG reported extensive damage to the marine environment of Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal, areas frequented by CMM ships. – Rappler.com