(BGF) – The Philippines’ Deputy Director-General of the National Security Council Secretariat said about 18 Chinese maritime surveillance ships operating in the Philippines area, which raises the need to pour more resources into the budget for defense spending, as Alexis Remero reported for the Philippine Star.
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18 Chinese maritime ships operating within Philippine territory
June 13, 2013 | by Alexis Remero
(Photo Credit: the Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines – About 18 Chinese vessels are intruding into Philippine territory, raising the need to pour more resources to defense spending, a security official said Thursday.
Vicente Agdamag, Deputy Director-General of the National Security Council Secretariat, said the deployment of the ships is in line with China’s aim to consolidate its control over the West Philippine Sea.
“Right now, there are 18 maritime surveillance ships operating in our area,” Agdamag said during the Air Force’s Air Power Symposium 2013 in Pasay City.
Agdamag did not say what types of ships were deployed and where they are located. He, however, enumerated incidents showcasing China’s aggressive behavior in the West Philippine Sea.
These include the imposition by China of an “exclusion zone” in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, is 124 nautical miles from the nearest point in Zambales province.
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