Philippines against Chinese vessels around Pag-asa Island

The Philippines has lodged protest against China’s continuing “illegal presence and activities” near Pag-asa Islands on Saturday.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a diplomatic protest yesterday against the incessant deployment, prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels in the vicinity of the Pag-asa islands, demanding that China withdraw these vessels. The Pag-asa Islands is an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

As Beijing’s assertiveness continues to grow in the disputed areas of the South China Sea, Philippines has “substantially” increased the number of boats on patrol following encounters with Chinese coastguard and militia vessels, according to a Washington-based

think tank.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said that from March 1 to May 25 it had observed “13 Philippine law enforcement or military vessels paying a total of 57 visits to waters around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal”, South China Morning Post reported.

It said this was “a substantial increase over the previous 10 months, when three vessels were tracked making seven total visits to contested features”.

In March, tensions between the Philippines and China came to a climax after hundreds of Chinese boats were spotted in the disputed portions of the South China Sea. Philippines defence and foreign ministers have claimed that the “threatening” Chinese vessels are manned by militias.China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea.