China’s embassy in Manila denies invasion by its maritime militia of the Philippines’ Julian Felipe Reef. Supposedly the 220 Chinese vessels are fishers sheltering from storm. The embassy even disavows the very existence of such militarized fishing fleet. That’s classic Beijing duplicity. At the same time it trumpets to home audiences the “triumphs” of its thousands-strong People’s Armed Force Maritime Militia. It also builds militia trawlers – so far 84 – with reinforced steel hulls for ramming, arms for harassing and gadgets for spying in neighbor-states’ waters. The PAFMM assists the People’s Liberation Army in sea aggression.

Bondoc, J. (2021, March 31). World opinion, naval powers will shame China in reef grab. The Philippine Star, p. 7.