Majority of the 220 Chinese fishing vessels initially spotted while moored in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef are now dispersed in other areas of the West Philippine Sea, creating a chilling situation which could indicate that China "may be doing illicit activities" in the territory of the Philippines.

A document from the National Task Force (NTF) for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) and several photos obtained by the Manila Bulletin indicated that the vessels believed to be manned by Chinese militias did not actually leave the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea but were roaming around and were evidently conducting activities similar to sea patrol.

The same photos and document revealed that 44 vessels were still docked at the Julian Felipe Reef as of March 29 after the Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, filed a diplomatic protest against China's apparent incursion in the West Philippine Sea.

China appears to habitually enter and exit the Julian Felipe Reef when the 220 vessels were monitored on March 7. The number later decreased to 183 vessels on March 23, before it increased to 199 vessels on March 29. The Chinese vessels have been going in and out of the reef as early as November last year.

The NTF-WPS, however, found out that the Chinese vessels that left the Julian Felipe Reef on March 29 just transferred to other areas in the West Philippine Sea.

It said that 115 vessels were monitored at the Kennan (Chigua) Reef; 45 vessels were at the Pagasa (Thitu) Island; while 50 other vessels were dispersed at Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Kagitingan (Fiery) Reef, and Zamora (Subi) Reef -- all located within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Further, four vessels from People's Liberation Army (PLAN) were also spotted at the Panganiban Reef, which forms part of the EEZ and continental shelf of the main Philippine archipelago, the NTF-WPS report said.

Like Julian Felipe Reef, Kennan Reef can be found in the Union (Pagkakaisa) Banks while Pag-asa Island, a Philippine-administered island, is located approximately 480 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Meanwhile, the Panganiban, Kagitingan, and Zamora reefs are all within the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan.

Militarising islands?

Another photo showed that several facilities were already built by China at the Zamora Reef, which is located 14 nautical miles from Pag-asa Island, a seemingly daring attempt at militarizing the area.

The photo appears to confirm the report of US-based technology firm Similarity that China has already begun the early phases of a major construction at Subi or Zamora Reef, including preparations to establish agricultural structures, island repair, or land reinforcement.

"The Philippines calls on China to immediately withdraw these vessels flying its flag. The NTF-WPS stands by its observation that these so-called 'fishing' vessels are maritime militia," said NTF-WPS and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

Esperon stressed that China's "build-up and massing formation" from Julian Felipe Reef to other areas in the Kalayaan Island Group "is hazardous to navigation and safety of life at sea."

"They may be doing illicit activities at night and their lingering (swarming) presence may cause irreparable damage to the marine environment due to marine pollution and destruction of coral reefs," Esperon said.

"Their swarming also poses a threat to the peaceful exercise of sovereign rights of the Philippines in its EEZ," he added.

Several nations including the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have expressed alarm on China's aggressive maritime activities in the West Philippine Sea.

Esperon said that the national government "appreciates" other nations' support which "sharecommon adherence to rules-based order consistent with international law," including the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Philippines and China are locked in a maritime duel as Beijing claims majority of areas in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, or the area within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of Manila.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Hague, The Netherlands rejected China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea as it favored the Philippines' claims.

However, China did not honor the international ruling.