240 Chinese Ships Swarm Philippines, Who Lodge Diplomatic Protest
MANILA, Philippines - Around 240 Chinese ships are now swarming Philippine waters as the Philippines lodge yet another diplomatic protest to the Chinese incursion into the West Philippine Sea, which China claims is their territory.
The NTF-WPS issued another statement to China to pull out all of its ships within the Philippine exclusive economic zone located within the West Philippine Sea:
"The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea denounces the continuous swarming in the WPS by Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Maritime Militia which are claimed by Chinese authorities to be ordinary fishing vessels"
Of the 240 Chinese vessels located in the West Philippine Sea were two Chinese coastguard ships and 10 militia vessels. Two of which were Houbei class missile boats, a Corvette class warship and a Chinese navy tugboat. 136 of the 240 vessels were seen to be illegally fishing in Philippine waters and also seen poaching giant clams.