Chinese ships taking aggressive actions vs Philippine Navy in Pag-asa, says Magdalo

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte's joke that China should make the Philippines one of its provinces is quite close to the truth, Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said Tuesday.

Information that the lawmaker received show that Chinese vessels formed a semi-circle formation around Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea upon seeing a Philippine Navy ship.

The Navy ship was conducting regular troop rotation and mission last month when it spotted a Chinese vessel lurking 4 nautical miles off Pag-asa Island, according to Alejano. Two more Chinese vessels then headed towards the first vessel when the Philippine Navy ship arrived.

Soon after, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and warship of China's People's Liberation Army-Navy were seen 5 nautical miles off Pag-asa Island. The Chinese Coast Guard and Navy ships went as close as 2 nautical miles northwest of the Philippine-claimed island.

"The semi-circle formation and shadowing used by the Chinese vessels around the Philippine Navy ship displayed the 'cabbage strategy' being employed by China to control a specific area," Alejano said in a statement.

The quick response of the Chinese ships suggest that they are stationed nearby, particularly Subi Reef which is being used as forward operating bases.

"The rapid militarization of the West Philippine Sea, lack of formal and transparent protests by our government, the reported Chinese-Philippine resource ventures – all of these point to a passive and subservient strategy by the administration," the lawmaker said.

Alejano criticized Duterte for joking about the Philippines making a province of China, which is "unacceptable" for the president who is the country's top diplomat.

READ: Duterte jokes about 'Philippines, a province of China'

"Such irresponsible banter is a slap in the face of the many Filipinos, including our soldiers stationed in our occupied islands who work tirelessly to defend our territorial integrity from China," Alejano said.

"This only shows how indifferent and apathetic Duterte is to China’s bastardization of our sovereignty," he added.

Duterte, in a speech Monday night, admitted that China was militarizing the artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea.

Defending China, the president said that Beijing's military facilities in the country's exclusive economic zone are not intended for the Philippines.

"It’s really intended against those who the Chinese think would destroy them and that is America," Duterte said.

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