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(Eagle Information) – The Philippine authorities, via the Division of Overseas Affairs, once more filed a protest over Chinese language incursion round Julian Felipe Reef after it famous “the return of over 100 Chinese language vessels illegally working within the waters in and round” the reef just lately.
The DFA noticed the incident which occurred on April 4, 2022, “barely a yr after the identical swarming incident was protested by the Philippine Authorities.”
“The lingering unauthorized presence of Chinese language fishing and maritime vessels just isn’t solely unlawful, however can be a supply of instability within the area,” the DFA stated on the return of over 100 Chinese language fishing vessels round Julian Felipe Reef, also referred to as Whitsun Reef.
Julian Felipe Reef is a low tide elevation throughout the territorial sea of related excessive tide options within the Kalayaan Island Group, together with Chigua Reef, over which the Republic of the Philippines has sovereignty, in line with the DFA.
It’s on the northeast excessive restrict of the Union Banks within the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), and is taken into account the most important reef of the Union Banks.
“The persistent swarming of Chinese language vessels is opposite to worldwide regulation, together with the 1982 United Nations Conference on the Legislation of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the ultimate and binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA stated.
“It’s also a violation of China’s commitments beneath the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Events within the South China Sea, particularly, the train of self-restraint pursuant to Paragraph 5 thereof,” it stated.
The Philippines stated it regrets this newest Chinese language violation of worldwide regulation.
It famous that simply days earlier than the incident, each President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese language President Xi Jinping the place the 2 leaders “reaffirmed their dedication to unravel problems with mutual concern via peaceable dialogue, and train restraint in any and all endeavors referring to the South China Sea.”
“The Philippines calls on China to adjust to its obligations beneath worldwide regulation, stop and desist from displaying unlawful and irresponsible conduct, keep away from additional escalating tensions at sea and instantly withdraw all of its vessels from Philippine maritime zones,” the DFA assertion stated.
Final yr, in late March, the Philippines additionally demanded the rapid withdrawal of the Chinese language militia ships discovered swarming across the Julian Felipe Reef.
At the moment, 44 ships the place discovered moored on the Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef), and 214 extra ships have been present in different areas of the Kalayaan Island Group and the West Philippine Sea.
(Eagle Information Service)
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