Philippines areas buoys in components of South China Sea to assert sovereignty

By Reuters:

The Philippines has positioned navigational buoys inside its distinctive monetary zone (EEZ) to assert sovereignty over the disputed Spratly islands inside the South China Sea, a coast guard spokesperson acknowledged on Sunday.

The step comes amid China’s increasingly aggressive actions inside the South China Sea as Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr pursues hotter ties with treaty ally the United States.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) acknowledged it organize 5 buoys carrying the nationwide flag from May 10 to 12 in 5 areas all through the 200-mile (322-km) zone, along with the Whitsun Reef, the place a lot of of Chinese maritime vessels moored in 2021.

“This move highlights the Philippines’ unwavering resolve to protect its maritime borders and resources and contribute to the safety of maritime trade,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, the coast guard spokesperson on South China Sea factors, acknowledged on Twitter.

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China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

In May 2022, the coast guard put in 5 navigational buoys on 4 islands inside the Spratlys.

China’s declare of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea was invalidated by a world arbitration ruling in 2016.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam even have claims inside the Spratlys, the place China has dredged sand to assemble islands on reefs, and equipped them with missiles and runways.

Beijing has for years deployed a lot of of coast guard and fishing vessels in disputed areas.

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