CHINA is poised to take effective control of Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef, a large boomerang-shaped shallow coral reef that is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and its continental shelf.
A May 9, 2024 satellite photo showed a swarm of 82 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels at the reef, SeaLight, a maritime transparency project that monitors and reports activities in the South China Sea, said.
Retired US Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, described the Chinese swarm as “impressive” and “extraordinary,” but this is not the first time they have been seen in the area.
He said the Chinese swarm at Julian Felipe Reef first generated an outcry from the Philippines three years ago in what was then called the “Whitsun Reef Incident.”
“It’s worth remembering that at the time, China claimed these were only fishing vessels seeking shelter and that it had no plan to maintain a permanent presence at the reef,” he said.
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Although China has denied that it has plans to maintain a permanent presence at Julian Felipe Reef, the continued presence of CMM vessels in the area for three years “proves this was a lie,” said Powell on May 19.
He noted that the “massive size” of the CMM ships and the long-term persistence “remains extraordinary.”
He also said there are certainly more CMM ships at Julian Felipe Reef, as dozens of others are usually scattered to the west outside of the scope of satellite photos.
“A more complete count would likely be similar to the 135 spotted by the Philippine Coast Guard last November,” he said.
Powell was referring to the report made by the PCG on Nov. 13, 2023, during which they monitored 111 CMM vessels swarming Julian Felipe Reef.
It further reported that the number later increased to 125 based on monitoring of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
In response to the “alarming development,” National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who also sits as chairman of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, directed the PCG to carry out a maritime patrol to challenge and document the illegal presence of the CMM in Julian Felipe Reef.
PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan subsequently deployed PCG vessels, BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra, to conduct patrols in the immediate vicinity of the reef.
It was later reported that no response was made to the radio challenges issued by the PCG to the CMM vessels, which was then estimated to have grown to more than 135 that were dispersed and scattered within Julian Felipe Reef.
Julian Felipe Reef is located 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan, and is considered a low tide elevation within the territorial sea of relevant high tide features in the Kalayaan Island Group, including Chigua Reef, over which the Republic of the Philippines has sovereignty.
Powell said the Chinese ships at the reef identify themselves as “fishing” vessels but are “clearly not fishing.”
“Rather, these Spratly Backbone Fishing Vessels are earning Chinese government subsidies by simply existing here, rafted together as a floating outpost,” he said.
Powell said the goal of China is “effective control.”
“China does not need to build an outpost to gain and maintain control of maritime features in its neighbors’ exclusive economic zones. The sheer size of its maritime militia enables it to simply overwhelm their capacity to respond,” he said.
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