287 Chinese militia vessels spotted across Kalayaan waters task force
Published May 12, 2021 1:40pm
Updated May 12, 2021 2:13pm
File photo Close to 300 Chinese militia vessels were seen scattered over various features of Kalayaan municipality in Palawan, a government task force on West Philippine Sea said Wednesday, citing results of a May 9 maritime patrol. In a statement reporting the results of the patrol conducted by Area Task Force - West, the National Task Force on West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said 287 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels were seen in Kalayaan waters both within and outside the Philippines exclusive economic zone. Bigger groupings of CMMs were sighted at the artificial islands of China while some where observed near islands occupied by the Philippines, it said.
West PH Sea task force corrects Roque: Julian Felipe Reef within EEZ
May 12, 2021 4:54 PM PHT
Jairo Bolledo
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) has contradicted the remarks of Malacañang that Julian Felipe Reef is not located within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
“The JFR (Julian Felipe Reef) is a low tide elevation (LTE) located 175 NM (nautical miles) from Bataraza, Palawan and within our 200NM EEZ,” the task force said in a statement on Wednesday, May 12.
At the height of growing tensions between the Philippines and China, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Julian Felipe Reef was located outside the Philippines’ EEZ.
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Philippines Says Nearly 300 Chinese Militia Boats Spotted In Latest Maritime Patrol
As per a statement signed by NTF WPS chair and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr, huge groups of CMMs were spotted at the artificial islands.
(IMAGE CREDITS: AP)
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF WPS) on Wednesday, May 12, said that a maritime patrol on Sunday, May 9 spotted the presence of 287 Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels scattered over the various features of the Municipality of Kalayaan, both within and outside the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the country. As per a statement signed by NTF WPS chair and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr, huge groups of CMMs were spotted at the artificial islands which have been built by China. Also, some were observed near islands occupied by the Philippines.