© Photographer: Ted Aljibe/AFPThis photo taken on May 14, 2019, a Philippine coast guard ship (R) sails past a Chinese coastguard ship during an joint search and rescue exercise between Philippine and US coastguards near Scarborough shoal, in the South China Sea.
(Bloomberg) -- The presence of China's "maritime militia" near a South China Sea reef shows Beijing's intent to occupy more disputed areas, according to a statement from Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
China has "done this before" in other contested areas like Scarborough Shoal and is "brazenly violating Philippine sovereignty," Lorenzana said on Sunday. He was reacting to a statement from China's embassy in Manila, which on Saturday described waters around the Whitsun Reef -- where hundreds of Chinese vessels were spotted early last month -- as "traditional fishing grounds" and "part of China's Nansha Islands."
Lorenzana's remarks signal a tougher stance from the Philippines government, which had initially issued a formal diplomatic protest to China saying that the ships raised concerns on overfishing and safety of navigation. In a separate statement on Saturday, Lorenzana also refuted China's earlier response that those vessels were sheltering from the wind, saying the weather in the area has been good.
READ: Philippines Says China 'Militia' Spreads to Other Disputed Reefs
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin separately said on Sunday that he is "considering a demarche" following the Chinese Embassy's claim that Whitsun Reef is part of China's territory. He also said on Twitter that "swarming accomplishes nothing."
The Philippines, under President Rodrigo Duterte, has in recent years been building friendly ties with China while keeping its alliance with the U.S. The Biden administration in late March expressed concerns over the presence of Chinese fishing vessels near the disputed reef, saying Beijing uses "maritime militia to intimidate, provoke and threaten other nations."
READ: U.S. Rips China 'Maritime Militia,' Backs Philippines in Row (1)
(Adds Philippine foreign secretary's comments in 4th paragraph)
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