PH patrol ships ‘intruded’ into China’s territory, says foreign minister

THE Chinese Foreign Ministry has claimed that Philippine patrol ships intruded into the maritime territory of China.

In a press briefing in Beijing, Wang Wenbin, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (CMFA), said that on June 30, 2023, two Philippine Coast Guard vessels intruded into the waters off the Ren’ai Reef without Chinese permission.

“The Ren’ai Reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands,” he added.

“In accordance with the law, the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel carried out law enforcement activities to uphold China’s sovereignty and maritime order. The Chinese side’s maneuvers were professional and restrained,” Wang said.

Wang’s remarks were made in response to a report of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that two Philippine patrol ships were illegally thwarted by a CCG ship in the South China Sea, a move that was extremely dangerous.

According to the PCG report, two Chinese coast guard vessels, 6 Chinese militia vessels, and a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) ship – harassed and shadowed two coast guard ships inside the Philippine’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The West Philippine Sea (WPS) is the official term Manila uses to refer to parts of the South China Sea that lie within the country’s EEZ. — Javier Joe Ismael

*****
Credit belongs to: www.manilatimes.net