The military has been sending aircraft and ships to monitor the almost 200 Chinese vessels anchored at Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said late Saturday. He also said more ships would patrol the West Philippine Sea, as he repeated his demand that China withdraw its fleet there immediately. “We are ready to defend our national sovereignty and protect the marine resources of the Philippines. There will be an increased presence of Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard ships to conduct sovereignty patrols and protect our fishermen in the West Philippine Sea,” Lorenzana said in a statement.

Corrales, N. (2021, March 29). PH ramps up monitoring of Chinses vessels. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A4.