“You have entered (the waters bordering) a Chinese reef and pose a security threat. To avoid any misunderstanding, leave immediately,” said the Chinese radio operator, in one of seven warnings also issued in English to the Philippine plane. During the four-hour flight, the Philippine Coast Guard identified nearly 20 Chinese ships in the waters surrounding some of the nine islands and reefs occupied by the Philippines, said AFP, one of whose journalists was on board. ‘plane.
Seventeen Chinese navy boats were also seen near the Sabina Atoll Bank, also claimed by Manila, and fifteen others near the island of Thitu, the largest occupied by the Philippines in the area, in regarding 430 km from the main island of Palawan.
This new incident in the waters disputed by Manila and Beijing comes a few weeks following a similar incident, which occurred in mid-February, regarding twenty kilometers from the Second Thomas atoll. According to the Philippines, a Chinese boat twice aimed a “military-style” green laser at the Philippine vessel, “resulting in the temporary blinding of its crew (present) on deck”. The Chinese vessel would also have carried out “dangerous maneuvers”, approaching regarding 140 meters from the boat.
Manila’s new strategy, since the arrival of new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in June 2022, is to denounce the “bullying behavior and aggressive actions” of China, explained Wednesday March 8 the spokesman of the coastguard Filipinos.
