Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana lashed at China for apparently trying to take Philippines security officials for a ride, again, over the presence of the Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement released on Saturday, April 3, Lorenzana reiterated the demand of the Philippine government for China to order the crew of the remaining 44 Chinese vessels to leave the Julian Felipe Reef which is some 180 nautical miles from Bataraza, Palawan.
“The Chinese Ambassador has a lot of explaining to do. As of our latest maritime and aerial surveillance, there are still forty-four (44) Chinese vessels that are in Julian Felipe Reef,” said Lorenzana in a statement.
“I am no fool. The weather has been good so far, so they have no other reason to stay there. These vessels should be on their way out. Umalis na kayo diyan (Leave),” he added.
The strongly-worded statement of Lorenzana on the presence of 44 vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef was issued barely nine years when the standoff between the Navy ship and Chinese Cast Guard occurred at the Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) after Navy personnel intercepted Chinese vessels poaching in Philippine waters.
To resolve the standoff, both China and the Philippines reportedly agreed to leave the Scarborough Shoal. But China did not honor the agreement which prompted then President Noynoy Aquino to order the filing of a case before a United Nations Tribunal which eventually ruled in favor of the Philippine government.
On March 7 this year, the Philippine Coast Guard reported the presence of more or less 220 Chinese vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese militia, that were moored in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef.
The Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest which forced the other vessels to leave. When a military plane and a ship were sent to the area to check again, the number was reduced to more or less 180.
The latest patrol revealed that the number of the Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef were at 44 but Philippine security officials disclosed that the other vessels are now dispersed in various areas of the disputed West Philippine Sea.
Reading from Lorenzana’s statement, it appeared that the Chinese ambassador apparently told him that the presence of the remaining Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef is for safety due to bad weather conditions.
“We have already lodged our diplomatic protest stating unequivocally our stand on the issue. We, again, reiterate our demand for the Chinese to leave our sovereign territories and abide by international law,” said Lorenzana.