The Philippines on Wednesday said its maritime patrols had twice driven Chinese vessels away from a shoal within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It was the first time since President Duterte took office in 2016 that the government disclosed such a move by Philippine ships against Chinese vessels. The action by ships from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) followed an escalation of the maritime dispute between Manila and Beijing when more than 200 Chinese maritime militia vessels swarmed Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef in March.

Andrade, J. I., & Santos, T. G. (2021, May 6). Coast Guard, BFAR drive away Chinese vessels from PH shoal. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A2, A3.