Philippines and US officials discuss Chinese activities in South China Sea; Philippines express deep condern

In this photo provided by the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea, Chinese vessels are moored at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea on March 27, 2021. The Philippine government said Wednesday, March 31, that more than 250 Chinese vessels it believes are operated by militia have been spotted near six Manila-claimed islands and reefs in the disputed South China Sea and demanded that China immediately remove them. - AP

WASHINGTON, April 2 (Reuters): The national security advisers for the United States and the Philippines discussed their shared concerns over Chinese activities in the South China Sea in a call on Wednesday, the White House has said.

The Philippines has described the presence of hundreds of Chinese boats inside its 200-mile exclusive economic zone at Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea as "swarming and threatening."

Manila believes the vessels were manned by maritime militia. Chinese diplomats have said the boats were sheltering from rough seas and no militia were aboard.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Philippines national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon "agreed that the United States and the Philippines will continue to coordinate closely in responding to challenges in the South China Sea," the White House said.

"Sullivan underscored that the United States stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order, and reaffirmed the applicability of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty in the South China Sea," it added.

Canada, Australia, Japan and others have voiced concern about China's intentions.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Vietnam have competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, through which at least US$3.4 trillion of annual trade passes.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Philippines expressed "deep concern over the continuing unlawful presence (swarming) of the Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM), which did not pull out and have remained in Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef and are now in other areas."

The task force said four Chinese navy ships were also seen at Mischief Reef, which it said is part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The task force said the "build-up and massing formation" was hazardous to navigation and damaging to sea life.

"Neither the Philippines nor the international community will ever accept China's assertion of its so-called 'indisputable integrated sovereignty' over almost all of the South China Sea," the task force said.

Earlier this month, the Philippines filed a diplomatic complaint against some 220 Chinese vessels sighted on March 7 moored at Whitsun Reef.

China said the vessels were fishing boats seeking refuge during bad weather and not maritime militia.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, while parts are claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan.

In 2016, the Philippines won a ruling at the Permanent Court of Arbitration which rejected China's expansive claim in the sea lane. China has refused to honour the ruling. - Reuters