AFP naalarma sa 48 Chinese vessels malapit sa Recto Bank
Iniulat ng AFP-Western Command (Wescom) ang presensiya ng 48 Chinese fishing vessels (CFVs) sa paligid ng Iroquois Reef, na malapit lamang sa Recto Bank sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sa pahayag ng Wescom, ang Chinese vessels ay nakita ng mga piloto ng NV-312, isang Britten Norman Islander light patrol aircraft ng Philippine Navy (PN).
Bago pa ito, may impormasyon ukol sa lumalaking bilang ng CFVs sa naturang bahagi ng WPS.
Noong Pebrero, may 12 CFVs na namataan sa lugar at lumubo ito sa 47 noon lamang Hunyo 12.
Bukod sa CFVs, may tatlong Chinese Coast Guard vessels at dalawang Chinese Liberation Army Navy vessels ang umaaligid-aligid sa Sabina Shoal.
Lubhang nakakabahala ang lumalaking presensiya ng Chinese vessels sa dalawang nabanggit na bahagi ng WPS.
“These developments raise an alarming concern about China’s intentions and actions within these disputed waters,” ayon sa Wescom.
Sa naunang pahayag, sinabi ni Weescom spokesperson, Cmdr. Ariel Coloma: “Recto Bank is a vital feature within the Philippine’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and China must cease its swarming of vessels to respect our sovereign rights.”
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