The Philippines strengthens its military presence in waters near China

July 9 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Philippine Armed Forces and the country’s Coast Guard will increase their military presence in the South China Sea following recent incidents sparked by the presence of Chinese vessels in disputed waters.

“According to the follow-up report, the Chinese military forces are still in the area at the moment. The Coast Guard and the Armed Forces are going to intensify our patrols from next week to ensure that they leave the Iroquois reef,” a spokesman for the Iroquois reef said. the coast guard, the captain of the ship Jay Tarriela, in statements to the Super Radyo dzBB radio station.

Tarriela has warned that the Chinese strategy is based on crowding the area with ships “for a very long period of time.” “If you don’t notice, they will increase the number even more,” she explained.

The Western Command of the Philippine Armed Forces reported last week the detection of 48 allegedly Chinese vessels on Iroquois Reef or Del Pilar Reef around June 30. Five other Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese Armed Forces vessels were detected on the Sabina o Escoda sandbar.

The area is located south of the Recto Bank, an oil and gas rich area that is within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Chinese government claims almost the entire South China Sea, rich in hydrocarbon deposits and where goods worth 5 billion dollars (4.5 billion euros) navigate daily. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also claim these waters as their own.

In recent years China has rapidly turned the reefs of the Spratly Archipelago into artificial islands that appear to be military installations, from which its personnel routinely order foreign ships to leave.