By keeping hundreds of its vessels inside the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), China is guilty of not only encroaching on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) but also of economic sabotage by a “foreign intruder,” according to a leader of the House of Representatives. “Why would hundreds of ships converge in one spot for months if there is no economic gain for them? I am sure that there is something of high value underneath that they are very much interested in,” Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said. “Something that is very valuable to them and to us. Their continued presence there indicate that they are stealing from us these valuable resources,” Barbers added.

Porcalla, D., Flores, H., & Romero, P. (2021, May 3). 'Continued stay of Chinese in WPS economic sabotage'. The Philippine Star, p. 4.