MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government protested China’s latest activities involving illegal patrols over Philippine territorial waters, particularly in the gas-rich Recto Bank, also called Reed Bank, which is part of the continental margin of Palawan based on the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“We are protesting the conduct of sovereignty patrols by Chinese vessels on Recto Bank. The frequent passage of Chinese vessels in Recto Bank is not an innocent exercise of freedom of navigation but is actually done as part of a pattern of illegitimate sovereign patrol in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone pursuant to China’s unilateral effort to change the status quo in the South China Sea,” said Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose.
In an earlier interview, President Benigno Aquino III, revealed that at least two Chinese hydrographic vessels were spotted near Recto Bank, which is also known as Reed Bank.
Jose explained that the Recto Bank is within Palawan’s continental margin, and thus was not part of the contested territories in the South China Sea.
Moreover, he noted the vast distance of the bank from China, compared to the nearest coast of Palawan.
“Reed Bank or Recto Bank, which is about 85 nautical miles from the nearest coast of Palawan and 595 nautical miles from the coast of Hainan forms part of the 200 nautical mile of the continental shelf of the Philippine archipelago under the UNCLOS,” Jose said.
“In accordance with UNCLOS, the Philippines has exclusive sovereignty rights over Recto Bank or Reed Bank. No other state is lawfully entitled to assert sovereignty or sovereign rights over said area,” he stressed.
He further explained that Recto Bank is not an island, nor it is a low tide elevation.
The conduct of sovereignty patrols by China is in violation of both UNCLOS and a non-aggression pact in the South China Sea that was signed by China and Southeast Asian nations in 2001, he added.
