Philippines sees resurgence of Chinese ships in disputed waters

MANILA - The Philippine armed forces said it is doubling efforts on maritime surveillance after detecting a “resurgence” of Chinese vessels around the West Philippine Sea.

The West Philippine Sea is the term Filipinos use to refer to the eastern parts of the South China Sea that fall within the country’s 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, but which Beijing claims as its own.

After the Philippine military successfully drove away 50 Chinese militia vessels in July, such vessels

returned late August

after its patrols left the area, the armed forces said in a statement.

There was also “massive harvesting” of corals in disputed waters, it said.

The two countries are locked in an ongoing territorial dispute in the resource-rich West Philippine Sea, where other nations in Southeast Asia also have claims.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr

has ramped up protests over China’s actions in the waters

since he took power last year.

There was a period of time when there was no “swarming” because of the military presence, but weather and limited resources forced troops to leave the area.

Massive illegal harvesting of corals in the area is suspected based on underwater surveys conducted by Philippine Navy divers, according to the statement. BLOOMBERG