Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. wants an aerial view of the West Philippine Sea taken to see whether the more than 200 Chinese vessels moored and lingering in Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) have already left the area under almost perfect weather.
Locsin’s comment via a tweet came hours after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reiterated Washington’s commitment to stand by with its ally the Philippines over the amassing of Chinese ‘militia’ near the Julian Felipe Reef.
“Weather’s clear, winds down, sea’s like glass, seagulls languidly floating, the Chinese fishing vessels hunkered down for rough seas should have left by now for port or fresh fishing grounds. Can we have a flyover to take a photo; can’t trust native media for verisimilitude,” Locsin said in a social media post on Monday.
However, Twitter user Duan Dang posted a satellite image showing only a handful of Chinese vessels left around the boomerang-shaped Julian Felipe Reef.
“The bulk of Chinese vessels anchoring at Whitsun Reef have left, according to Planet’s satellite image on March 28,” said a caption detailing the posted satellite image.
This satellite photo was a stark contrast to the video footage released by CNN Philippines on March 26 showing a ‘flotilla’ of Chinese vessels still lingering around Julian Felipe Reef, an area within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The massing of over 200 Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea has raised concerns among the members of the international community that includes the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, among others.
On Monday, Blinken said the US stands with the Philippines in the face of China’s maritime militia amassing at Whitsun Reef.
“We will always stand up for the rules-based international order,” Blinken tweeted.