The Philippine Coast Guard said 42 vessels believed to be crewed by
Chinese maritime militia personnel were seen in the vicinity of
Thitu island, while a Chinese navy vessel and coast guard ship were
observed "slowly loitering" in the surrounding waters.
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a
request for comment on the assertion.
Thitu in the Spratly island chain is Manila's biggest and most
strategically important outpost in the South China Sea, a body of
water largely claimed by Beijing where several countries have
conflicting territorial claims.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said two weeks ago the Philippines
"will not lose an inch" of territory as the Southeast Asian
protested China's "aggressive activities" in the sea.
Locally known as Pag-asa, Thitu lies about 300 miles (480 km) west
of the western Philippine province of Palawan. Home to over 400
people, including military and law enforcement personnel, the island
is used by Manila to maintain its territorial claim.
Experts say China's fishing fleet and coast guard are central to its
strategic ambitions in the South China Sea, maintaining a constant
presence that complicates fishing and offshore energy activities by
other coastal states.
"Their continuing unauthorised presence is clearly inconsistent with
the right of innocent passage and a blatant violation of the
Philippines' territorial integrity," the coast guard said in a
statement.
Marcos last month summoned the Chinese ambassador to complain about
the intensity and frequency of China's actions in the South China
Sea.
The Philippines has filed 77 complaints against China's activities
in the sea, including a claim that a Chinese coast guard ship on
Feb. 6 directed a "military-grade laser" at one a Philippine coast
guard ship on a supply mission.
China claims sovereignty over the Spratlys, while Brunei, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all have competing claims for
some or all of the islands.
(Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by William Mallard)
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