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Dozens of Chinese vessels believed to be manned by their maritime militias in the West Philippine Sea have been moving much closer to Palawan in recent months, including waters near the sites of an aborted Philippines-China joint energy exploration plan, a top military official said on Tuesday.
“I confirm the swarming presence of Chinese fishing vessels in Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal since early this year,” Western Command chief Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, the most senior military officer who watches over the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea, told the Inquirer.
The vessels, ostensibly for fishing, have remained in these waters despite diplomatic protests against their presence, Carlos said.
“Through continuing diplomacy and dialogue, we hope for these vessels to leave our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) soon,” he said.
Carlos made the remarks when asked by the Inquirer to comment on a report last month by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (Amti) which said that Chinese vessels had spread out across “militia hot spots,” including Iroquois Reef, from September 2021 through September 2022.
Iroquois Reef is located 237 kilometers from Palawan’s Rizal town, and 148 km southwest of Recto (Reed) Bank, an area believed to be rich in oil and gas where China wants to conduct a joint exploration with the Philippines within the country’s 370-km EEZ.
