China vessels 'swarming' at disputed reef in South China Sea, says PCG

MORE THAN 50 Chinese vessels were anchored near a disputed reef in the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday, a day after accusing Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels of harassment in the Spratlys.

- By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

The Chinese Maritime Militia ships have been seen swarming near Iroquois Reef since Tuesday, PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela told a news briefing.

Two PCG ships were sent to challenge the vessels at the reef, which lies east of the disputed Spratly Islands.

“We challenged them through the radio,” he said. “We informed them that their presence, their movement and their swarming and anchoring activities do not conform to freedom of navigation.”

“This kind of behavior basically violates our sovereign rights in our exclusive economic zone (ecozone),” he added.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

Iroquois Reef, which Manila calls Rozul Reef, is 113 nautical miles (209 kilometers) off the major Philippine island of Palawan, well within Manila's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, Mr. Tarriela said.