According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post, on March 3rd, the Philippines claimed that it has doubled its patrol area in the South China Sea.
The Philippine National Maritime Board, which revealed this information, is coordinating this operation. Alexander Lopez, the vice chairman of the committee, told reporters that these patrol operations are part of a joint effort by the Philippine military, coast guard, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to maintain its presence in the "West Philippine Sea" (i.e., the South China Sea). He said, "Due to our deployment of ships and aircraft, we have covered more than three times the area of the West Philippine Sea. Our coverage of the West Philippine Sea is quite extensive."
Lopez stated that during the past quarter, the Philippine National Maritime Board's "maritime situational awareness" operations included 224 surface operations, 43 aerial patrols, and 56 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, among these operations, 13 ships were deployed for surface operations, with 8 from the Philippine Armed Forces and 5 from the Coast Guard. Additionally, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources had another 14 ships participating in related operations. They accumulated a total of 9,784 hours of maritime operations and traveled over 77,006 nautical miles. Furthermore, the Philippine government deployed 5 aircraft for aerial patrols, with 2 from the Philippine Armed Forces, 1 from the Coast Guard, and 2 from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, with a total flight time of 245 hours. Lopez said that these intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations have strengthened the Philippines' strategic presence in the region.
The South China Morning Post reported that China had previously established the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve. When asked whether expanding the patrols was a response to China's move, Caruag, the media relations officer of the Philippine National Maritime Board, said that the agency is waiting for instructions from higher authorities. Lopez said that the agencies have taken measures to strengthen their presence in the "West Philippine Sea" to stabilize the mood of Filipino fishermen in the area.
Previously, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry stated that the South China Sea is a shared home for China and ASEAN countries, and the peace and stability of the South China Sea require us to jointly maintain it. The deliberate infringement and provocation by the Philippine side at sea is the root cause of the tension, and China will continue to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and rights and interests in accordance with the law. At the same time, China is willing to resolve maritime disputes with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation, and work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and promote the consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, to jointly maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea. Relevant countries should truly abide by the provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, stop acts of infringement and provocation, and refrain from escalating tensions.
Special Correspondent Xin Bin, Global Times
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7568514207143100969/
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