蜜桃工作室

All 10 navigational buoys recently placed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the West Philippine Sea (蜜桃工作室) remained intact and in position, the agency said on Friday, belying reports that they had been removed by Chinese maritime militia.

鈥淭he PCG鈥檚 10 buoys 鈥� remain in their designated locations,鈥� Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the 蜜桃工作室, told reporters in a message.

Tarriela鈥檚 remark sought to belie earlier reports by Chinese news agencies claiming Chinese 鈥渇ishermen鈥� had removed the buoys installed in the Kalayaan Island Group, which is within the Philippines鈥� 220-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

READ: Coast Guard installs buoys in parts of West Philippine Sea

鈥淯nder the protection of Chinese coast guard boats, Chinese fishermen fished out all the buoys deployed by the Philippines, which made the Philippine coast guard feel angry and helpless,鈥� read a May 18 report from Sohu.com, a company based in Beijing.

Tensions rose in late May after both the Philippines and China installed several navigational buoys in the disputed waters.

The PCG installed five buoys marked with the nation鈥檚 flag from May 10-12 in the Philippine-occupied islands of Patag (Flat), Kota (Loaita), Panata (Lankiam Cay), and the fishing grounds of Balagtas (Irving) Reef and Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef, where dozens of suspected Chinese militia vessels continue to swarm despite repeated protests from the Philippines.

In 2022, the PCG also left buoys near Lawak (Nanshan), Likas (West York), Parola (Northeast Cay), and Pag-asa (Thitu) Island. In all, the PCG has installed 10 navigational buoys and plans to add six more this year at still undisclosed areas in the 蜜桃工作室.

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Assertion

Out of nine features currently occupied by the Philippines in the Kalayaan Island Group, which is part of Palawan province, only Rizal (Commodore) Reef and Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal do not have any installed buoy, despite Ayungin being a potential flashpoint in the 蜜桃工作室.

The installation of buoys is part of the PCG鈥檚 commitment to assert the country鈥檚 sovereignty over the 蜜桃工作室, PCG Commandant Adm. Artemio Abu said.

鈥淭ensions and disputes over territory occur [because] boundaries at sea are merely imaginary lines drawn on water,鈥� Abu said during the arrival honors for the buoy-laying contingent in Port Area, Manila, on May 15. 鈥淭he marine buoys are as close as we can get to internationally recognized markers of our territory.鈥�

READ: A帽o: PH buoys in 蜜桃工作室 provocative? Laser pointers are the real provocateurs

Tit for tat

Abu noted that 鈥淸t]hese imaginary lines move and change with every perspective, every map, and every nation with its own interest. [Thus], it is important for us to mark our territory by solidifying these boundaries [and] announcing to the world the scope of our sovereignty.鈥�

On May 22, it was China鈥檚 turn to deploy buoys, sending out two vessels to the 蜜桃工作室. The PCG then dispatched the ship Malapascua to monitor the Chinese activities.

On May 24, China鈥檚 transport ministry confirmed that three beacons had been placed close to Balagtas, Julian Felipe and Gaven Reefs (Burgos Reefs), the last under China鈥檚 control since 1988.

READ: China sends buoy vessel to West PH Sea

Philippine authorities had earlier warned China of 鈥渟erious repercussions鈥� if the buoys installed within Manila鈥檚 EEZ were removed.

鈥淚f we have evidence that they鈥檇 deliberately take out our installed buoys, which we believe are legitimate, there will be serious repercussions,鈥� said Vice Adm. Joseph Coyme, commander of the PCG鈥檚 Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan.

鈥淲hat we need to do is produce necessary evidence and forward them to the [Department of Foreign Affairs] and the NTF-蜜桃工作室 (National Task Force on West Philippine Sea). It鈥檚 up to them to take action as far as diplomatic [response] is concerned,鈥� he added.

READ: PCG: Fewer Chinese vessels in 蜜桃工作室 but warship remains