Same Chinese militia vessel returns to Kota Island after 11 days

MANILA, Philippines — The same Chinese maritime militia vessel has intruded into the waters of Philippine-held Kota Island in the West Philippine Sea for the second time in less than two weeks, prompting authorities to warn against repeated attempts to challenge the country’s sovereignty.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said on Saturday that Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel 9622 returned to the area on Friday, Oct. 9, accompanied by 22 sampans that engaged in unauthorized fishing and reportedly dumped waste at sea.

During the encounter, the Chinese mothership encircled Philippine patrol boats responding to the intrusion, while its captain claimed the waters as Chinese territory and ordered Filipino personnel to leave, according to the task force.

READ: Tarriela: Chinese ships off Kota Island a ‘coordinated militia op’

The same Chinese vessel had deployed 24 sampans near Kota Island on Sept. 28, marking two reported incursions involving the vessel in just 11 days.

“Such repeated incursions underscore the need for sustained vigilance and a clear, consistent response to attempts to challenge Philippine sovereignty,” the NTF-WPS said.

In the latest incident, one of the Chinese sampans approached within 250 meters of Kota Island’s shoreline, according to the task force.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel, supported by the Philippine Marine Corps and Philippine Navy, moved to confront the Chinese vessels, prompting the mothership to maneuver around and encircle their boats.

READ: LOOK: Chinese vessels spotted near PH-occupied Kota Island

Despite the confrontation, Philippine forces managed to drive all the Chinese vessels out of the island’s territorial waters, the NTF-WPS said.

The task force condemned the latest intrusion, saying the Chinese vessels’ unauthorized fishing activities violated Republic Act No. 12064, or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the Philippine Fisheries Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 10654.

Kota Island, also known as Loaita Island, is part of the Kalayaan Island Group under the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan. The Philippines occupies and administers the island, although China also claims sovereignty over it.

The NTF-WPS maintained that the island and its territorial sea are under Philippine sovereignty, rejecting China’s territorial claim.

“China’s claim over the area has no basis under international law,” it said.

The latest encounter adds to a series of confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, where Beijing continues to assert expansive maritime claims despite the 2016 arbitral ruling that rejected its claims to historic rights within the so-called nine-dash line.

The ruling, however, did not determine sovereignty over disputed islands and other land features.

The NTF-WPS commended the PCG, Philippine Marine Corps and Philippine Navy for their coordinated response, which resulted in the departure of the Chinese vessels.

It also warned against allowing repeated Chinese incursions and assertions of sovereignty to become commonplace in Philippine waters.

“Repeated intrusions, coercive maneuvers, and baseless assertions of sovereignty will not be allowed to become normalized in Philippine waters,” the task force said.

The NTF-WPS said the government would continue supporting Philippine maritime and security forces in protecting the country’s territory and maritime rights.

It added that the Philippines would respond to similar incidents “firmly, lawfully, and resolutely” to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests in the West Philippine Sea. /mr

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