WEST PHL SEA

China's radio challenges stopped but Philippines to continue asserting sovereignty —WesCom

Chinese vessels' "intrusions" in the West Philippine Sea halted but the Philippines will continue to protect its maritime claims, Armed Forces of the Philippines - Western Command (WesCom) chief Vice Admiral Ramil Enriquez said Sunday.

Enriquez said over Dobol B TV that the military deployed three aircraft in the West Philippine Sea last week but they did not detect Chinese unlawful activities.

"Di namin inaasahan na huminto sila dahil 'yun ang depensa natin sa intrusyon nila sa karagatan. Nevertheless, patuloy natin sasabihin sa buong  mundo 'di natin kinikilala ang kanilang authority sa lugar na 'yun. Kumbaga 'di natin pipigilan," Enriquez said when asked about Chinese vessels reportedly still harassing Philippine authorities in contested waters.

(We are not expecting that they will stop because we have defense against their intrusions in our waters. Nevertheless, we will continue to insist that we do not recognize their authority there, so we won't stop protesting.)

Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs called out China over its "unlawful issuance of over 200 radio challenges, sounding of sirens, and blowing of horns" while Philippine authorities were conducting patrols in its territorial waters.

China however on Thursday said its law enforcement activities in the disputed South China Sea are "legitimate and justified

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin maintained Beijing's activities will continue despite Manila's complaints that Philippine government vessels were harassed by China while conducting maritime patrols in Philippine territorial waters.

Meanwhile think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) reported that Chinese militia ships continued their presence in Philippine waters.

In its latest report, the AMTI said that “recent imagery shows that the number of ships at Iroquois [Reef] has fallen since the Philippine protest, but it also suggests that many of those vessels likely headed back to Union Banks, where numbers are now reaching the levels seen in March.”

But Enriquez said Philippine authorities continue to protest and ask for international help.

"Nireklamo natin ang pagsira nila sa coral reefs ng reclamation na ginawa nila... so 'di natin titigilan ang pag-uungkat sa mga ganu'ng bagay," he added.

(We already complained about their reclamation activities which damaged our coral reefs so we will not stop calling out their illegal practices.) —KG, GMA News