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This photo issued by the Philippine Coast Guard shows Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels swarming the area of Julian Felipe Reef taken December 2, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard/File

This photo issued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels swarming the area of Julian Felipe Reef taken December 2, 2023. The PCG raised concerns about the presence of at least 135 CMMs who did not respond to radio challenges by the PCG in the Julian Felipe Reed. These vessels began swarming in the area on November 13. Julian Felipe Reef, located 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan, is a low tide elevation within the territorial sea of key high tide features in the Kalayaan Island Group, including Chigua Reef, over which the Republic of the Philippines has sovereignty

Photos courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard

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This photo issued by the Philippine Coast Guard shows Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels swarming the area of Julian Felipe Reef taken December 2, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard/File


Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171394074032520231203-wps-julian-felipe-reef-ccm-PCG5 (1).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"/></div>This photo issued by the Philippine Coast Guard shows Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels swarming the area of Julian Felipe Reef taken December 2, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard/FileSixteen Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted around Reed Bank during a resupply and patrol mission conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) last April 20 to 22.One even had a woman onboard, which the Philippine Coast Guard described as unusual.A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship also arrived during the second day of the mission, going as near as 1.5 nautical miles away from BFAR’s ship, the BRP Datu Pagbuaya.While it did not come any closer to the Pagbuaya, nor was there any exchange of radio challenges like previous encounters, the CCG deployed two speed boats. One boat delivered personnel to a nearby Chinese maritime militia vessel while the other went around the BFAR vessel to check on the refueling of Filipino fishing boats.<div style="text-align:left"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/23/old-china-made-ship-to-be-sunk-in-balikatan-drills-ph-navy-says-1754" id="isPasted">READ: Old China-made ship to be sunk in Balikatan drills, PH Navy says</a></div>Authorities believe this latest display of coordination between the two entities could be further proof that the Chinese fishing militia is under the CCG’s control.&quot;&#x27;Yung mga ganung bagay po sa CMM [Chinese Maritime Militia] and Chinese Coast Guard ay may koneksyon din naman po sila sa isa’t isa po,” said BFAR Mission Commander James Abordo.Despite the sightings of Chinese vessels, BFAR provided more than 24,000 liters of diesel to dozens of Filipino fishing boats in the area.Fisherfolk said they were grateful since now they have one less thing to worry about.Fisherman Luigi Poral and his crew will use the fresh fuel supply to stay longer out at sea.“Iikot pa tapos gagamitin ulit para sa susunod naming biyahe. Para makamenos yung aming gastos,” he said.But while they’ve got their diesel covered, one problem remains— Beijing’s continued presence in the West Philippine Sea.Lito Alos, the captain of fishing boat Macly, said resulted in reduced fish catch since they could venture into areas where the CCG or the Chinese maritime militia vessels are stationed.“Binubulabog ng Chinese kaya hirap ang mangingisda dito tsaka hinaharang kami dito papunta sa bahura. Mahina na rin ang isda ubos na sa kanila. Pati Vietnam nandito na rin,” Alos said.<div style="text-align:left"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/toxLYooKqC4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></div><div style="text-align:left"> MISSING PAYAOS</div>Meanwhile, BFAR personnel also went to verify reports that some of the payao or fish aggregating devices that were installed by fishermen in early April near Rozul Reef, which is in the southern part of Reed Bank, were already missing.A fisherman from Quezon, Palawan who was part of the group that put the payao said that last time they checked, only six out of 10 were still there.After hours of searching, the BFAR team only found two.A piece of rope was also seen floating around the area where one of the payaos was seen.BFAR said was possible that the missing payaos were removed or had simply washed away.“Those reports are still subject for verification. Pwede naman po natin masabi na tinangay lang po siya ng mga agos, not necessarily na may pumutol or may nagtanggal,” said Abordo.Apart from the payaos, the BFAR team also inspected a sandbar in Rozul Reef to assess whether it is natural or man-made, since some of the corals in the area look to have been crushed, similar to those found in Sandy Cay 2 in Pag-Asa Island.According to BFAR, further studies would need to be conducted on the sandbar. But it noted that the marine biodiversity in the vicinity of the sandbar, based on initial assessment, seemed to be in good condition.Some fishermen resting in the area said they are still able to catch octopus and sea urchins in the area.

Sixteen Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted around Reed Bank during a resupply and patrol mission conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources last April 20 to 22.

Sixteen Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted around Reed Bank during a resupply and patrol mission conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources last April 20 to 22.

Over a dozen Chinese vessels spotted in Recto Bank — BFAR

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Over a dozen Chinese vessels spotted in Recto Bank — BFAR

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 24, 2024 02:56 PM PHT

Read More:

West Philippine Sea

BFAR

resupply mission

filipino fishermen

Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels

China Coast Guard

Recto Bank

Rozul Reef

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