China taking positions to deny Philippines access to key sea areas

In this June 27 photo, Philippine Navy personnel display a Philippine flag during a trip to Sandy Cay, a sandbar 7.4km from Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, where a number of Chinese ships have been seen. - / Philippine Daily Inquirer Read more: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/208978/china-taking-positions-to-deny-ph-access-to-key-wps-areas#ixzz7mqpTPflG Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Chinese maritime militia vessels posing as fishing boats are edging closer to Palawan as part of a ploy to restrict access by Filipinos to key areas in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to a maritime law expert.

Jay Batongbacal, a maritime law professor at the University of the Philippines, on Wednesday said the Chinese maritime militia anchored at Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal could quickly interdict Philippine ships sailing out to fish, resupplying Filipino military outposts or exploring for oil and gas off Palawan.