DFA to file diplomatic protest over Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday ordered the filing of another diplomatic protest in connection with the over 200 Chinese vessels spotted scattered in West Philippine Sea.

Locsin gave the order via Twitter after reading media reports about the situation. He said he has yet to hear about it officially from the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS).

"Changing my policy of acting only on NTF requests. @DFAPHL FIRE A DIPLOMATIC PROTEST NOW," he said.

According to the NTF-WPS on Tuesday, six vessels of the Chinese navy, including at least three warships, have been spotted in the West Philippine Sea by Philippine sovereignty patrols. There were also two People's Liberation Army Navy vessels seen in Bajo de Masinloc.

"All these warships of the PLA Navy contribute to the militarization of the area," the NTF-WPS said in a statement.

The presence of the Chinese navy vessels were on top of the estimated 240 Chinese militia vessels scattered in the territorial waters off Kalayaan in Palawan and in the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

Of the 240 Chinese militia, 136 are at Burgos Reef, nine at Julian Felipe Reef, 65 at Chigua Reef, six at Panganiban Reef, three at Zamora Reef, four at Pag-asa Islands, one at Likas Island, five at Kota Island, and 11 at Ayungin Shoal.

NTF-WPS estimated that the continued presence of Chinese fishing vessels could catch one ton of fish amounts to a conservative total of 240,000 kilograms of fish illegally taken from Philippine waters.

"These acts fall under illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing," it added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier summoned the Chinese ambassador to the country to tackle its concerns over the presence of Chinese boats at the Julian Felipe Reef, which caused tension between the two Asian countries.

The Philippine military had previously said that it would conduct joint exercises with US forces amid the growing incursions of China at West Philippine Sea. --KBK, GMA News