Chinese vessels near PH-occupied islands confirmed — US think tank
Credit to Author: DEMPSEY REYES| Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 08:55:12 +0000
THE presence of Chinese fishing vessels near Philippine-occupied islands within the Spratly Group of Islands (Kalayaan Island Group) is confirmed, a Washington-based think tank said.
In its report titled“Still Under Pressure: Manila Versus the Militia,” the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) showed satellite images collected on March 12, 16 and 29, and April 7, of Chinese vessels near Kota (Loaita) and Panata (Loaita Cay)islands where, in “almost every instance,” they were seen anchored, many in large clusters and without fishing gear in the water.
“On March 12, a single Chinese fishing trawler of about 50 meters was visible near [Kota] Island. Four days later, that had increased to eight large trawlers. And by March 29, there were at least 15 large Chinese fishing vessels and eight small boats in the area,” the AMTI said.
The think tank also said 13 Chinese vessels near Kota Island measured roughly 50 meters while two were about 20 meters.
Some of the vessels were located between 2 and 2.5 nautical miles from Kota Island and one has been loitering near the “unoccupied” Panata Cay to the east, “but most were arrayed around Loaita Cay.”
“None was engaged in trawling or appeared to have fishing gear deployed,” it said.
‘Closer than AMTI has seen’
A total of four Chinese trawlers were also seen anchored less than a half nautical mile from the Philippine outpost established at Panata Cay, the AMTI said.
At the same time, the think tank admitted that the distance of the trawlers was “considerably closer than AMTI has ever seen militia vessels approach another country’s facility before.”
“This must be particularly provocative for the Philippine detachment on the Cay, who likely rely on frequent resupply and relief from those on Loaita Island,” the AMTI said.
Apart from the Chinese vessels, the AMTI also spotted the presence of the Philippine Navy’s LST-542-class tank landing ship, which was deployed within sight of the two Chinese trawlers, about a nautical mile to the east of Panata Cay.
The AMTI said this World War 2-vessel could either be BRP Benguet or BRP Laguna, which was also the same class as the BRP Sierra Madre which Manila intentionally ran aground on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in 1999.
As for the Chinese vessels, the AMTI said two of the 20-meter ships in the area were each “towing three small boats.”
“Two more of these small boats were visible traveling southeast from the vicinity of Loaita Cay. These vessels appear similar to the ‘chopper boats’ and their mother ships often seen harvesting giant clams by intentionally destroying coral reefs around the South China Sea, most recently at Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal,” it added.
Based on the images, the AMTI said there was no new scarring visible on the reefs, either on the March 29 image or in the subsequent image, “so these boats could have been engaged in other types of fishing reef.”
“[L]ike the larger Chinese vessels, they have been foregoing in the service of the maritime militia,” it added.
Based on the April 7 image, only six large vessels and two small boats were visible, “though more of the latter could have been present.”
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