Carpio: Presence of Chinese militia vessels may lead to occupation of Julian Felipe Reef

Retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio on Wednesday warned that China might seize the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

Carpio, an advocate for the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the disputed waters, said the country should be wary of the presence of Chinese vessels near the reef, which is within Manila’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

"The way I look at it, this is a prelude to occupying Julian Felipe Reef, just like what they did to Mischief Reef in 1995. They started [by] saying they just built a fishermen shelter on Mischief Reef. Now, Mischief Reef is their air and naval base, they call it their ‘Pearl Harbor’ in the South China Sea," Carpio told ANC.

"I’m particularly worried that they will now start claiming, building on Julian Felipe Reef just like what they did on Mischief Reef," he said.

China, which denied the presence of militia vessels in the area, asserted the reef was part of Chinese territory. It also said the reef, called Niu’e Jiao by China, was traditionally used as a shelter by its fishing vessels during inclement weather.

Carpio disputed China's claim, saying "no storm was anywhere near Julian Felipe Reef."

The Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest against China on March 21, a move backed by the United States. China’s diplomatic mission in Manila on Tuesday flagged the US’ support for the protest, reiterating that the latter is not a party to the maritime dispute.

China also said that “fanning flames and provoking confrontation in the region” would “only serve the selfish interests of the individual country and undermine regional peace and stability.”

Carpio reiterated his proposal to rally world opinion against Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea, a portion of which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

This could include taking China to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, he said.

“We are harnessing world opinion here if we use the rule of law and that is our strength because we know we have the law on our side. We should use it to the hilt,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who adopted a conciliatory approach towards China, is expected to discuss the issue on Julian Felipe Reef with China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, Malacañang said.  —KBK, GMA News