The Philippine Navy reported on Tuesday that China has reclaimed approximately 3,000 hectares in the South China Sea (SCS), which includes features within the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Reclamation Details:
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson for the WPS, stated, “The total reclaimed area within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and out of our EEZ is roughly around 3,000 hectares. This includes China’s major bases.” These bases, which are now militarized, include:
- Subi Reef (Zamora Reef)
- Mischief Reef (Panganiban Reef)
- Johnson Reef (Mabini-Roxas Reef)
Trinidad noted that Subi Reef, although outside the Philippine EEZ, is located about 12 to 15 nautical miles from Pag-asa Island. The militarized bases are equipped with airstrips, harbors for warships, aircraft hangars, and military-grade communications equipment.
Chinese Vessel Presence:
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported an increase in the number of Chinese vessels in the WPS from July 30 to August 5, 2024:
- Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels (CMM): 106
- China Coast Guard (CCG) Ships: 12
- People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Ships: 3
Distribution of Chinese Vessels:
- Bajo de Masinloc: 3 CCGs, 6 CMMs, 1 PLAN
- Ayungin Shoal: 5 CCGs, 8 CMMs
- Pag-asa Islands: 1 CCG, 37 CMMs
- Kota Island: 2 CMMs
- Lawak Island: 1 CCG, 4 CMMs
- Panata Island: 2 PLANs, 3 CMMs
- Patag Island: 1 CCG
- Escoda Shoal: 1 CCG, 12 CMMs, 1 Chinese research vessel
- Julian Felipe Reef: 4 CMMs
- Rozul Reef (Iroquois Reef): 30 CMMs
Chinese Research Vessel:
The Chinese research vessel Ke Xue San Hao has been surveying around Escoda Shoal since July 25. Trinidad confirmed that the vessel did not request permission to conduct marine scientific research. The vessel’s irregular Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions were noted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which has stationed the BRP Teresa Magbanua at Escoda Shoal since April amid reports of China’s reclamation activities.
Background and Legal Context:
China’s extensive claims in the SCS, which overlap with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, have been a point of contention. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, stating China’s claims had “no legal basis.” However, China has not recognized this ruling.
In July 2023, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs officially requested the United Nations’ Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to assert the country’s entitlement to an extended continental shelf in the West Palawan Region, rejecting China’s expansive claims over the SCS.