China is increasing its presence in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal as 30 Chinese boats and ships were spotted in the Philippine-owned area on Thursday, a security official said Friday, the Philippine Star reports.
The source who requested anonymity said there were indications that the Chinese vessels were fishing in the area, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The number of Chinese vessels seen in the area was 10 times more than the three ships spotted in the shoal during a previous monitoring by the government early this month.
“They (Chinese vessels) seem to be continuing their fishing activities. There is really no fishing ban,” the source said.
The information about the presence of Chinese boats was based on a report on Friday by officials monitoring the situation in the area.
The ships were spotted last Thursday, two days after the Russian Coast Guard apprehended 36 Chinese fishermen and seized two Chinese vessels that entered its territory.
The Chinese fishermen reportedly tried to fish in the Primorsky region, which is within Russia’s exclusive economic zone.