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(From PCG) May 05, 2021 CHINESE militia vessels left the area near Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea after they were challenged by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said.
In a report on Monday, May 4, 2021, the NTF said PCG vessel BRP Cabra and two vessels from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources spotted seven Chinese vessels “nested or in stationary linear formation” at the Sabina Shoal on April 27.
Sabina Shoal is located around 130 nautical miles west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan and east of Ayungin Shoal.
The crew members of the BRP Cabra issued a series of radio challenges, reminding the Chinese vessels that they were within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
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Chinese vessels spotted in West Philippine Sea (From AFP)
+ May 03, 2021 THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has protested the shadowing, blocking, dangerous maneuver and radio challenges by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels conducting legitimate maritime patrols and training exercises in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc on April 24 to 25, 2021.
It has also protested the incessant, illegal, prolonged, and increasing presence of Chinese fishing vessels and maritime militia vessels in Philippine maritime zones.
In a statement issued Monday, May 3, 2021, DFA stressed that China has no law enforcement rights in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which is part of the Spratly Islands, and Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea.
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Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea (File)
+ April 23, 2021 ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Cirilito Sobejana said they have proposed the construction of various structures on islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to better protect the disputed territory.
“We are entertaining also the idea subject to the wisdom of National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) na magtatayo tayo ng mga istraktura diyan sa lugar katulad ng ginagawa ng China,” Sobejana said in a virtual press conference on Thursday, April 22, 2021.
“Kasi ang dahilan kung bakit hindi tayo nagtatayo diyan nung araw kasi may napag-usapan na wala dapat magpatayo subalit yun ay nilabag ng China, kaya dapat tayo magpatayo na tayo starting now,” he added.