The Whitsun Reef, known in the Philippines as the Julian Felipe Reef, is part of the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. In Manila, the reef narrative has been promoted, particularly by that part of local media that in the past has been linked with foreign funding and interests. The issue has been touted by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, even Foreign Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. According to China, the fishing vessels at the reef were sheltering from bad weather and had “no plan” to stay there permanently.

Steinbock, D. (2021, April 12). Overcoming orchestrated conflicts in South China Sea. The Manila Times, pp. A4, A5.