- The Philippines stated that more than 135 Chinese warships staged an incursion off its coast on Julian Felipe Reef (also known as Whitsun Reef).
- Julian Felipe Reef is part of the Spratly Islands, which are located in the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the South China Sea.
- It is located inside the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
- It is a big shallow coral reef in the shape of a boomerang.
Recent Dispute
- When a significant number of Chinese vessels, reported by the Philippines as maritime militia, were detected around the reef in early 2021, it drew worldwide attention.
- Several nations, particularly the Philippines, China, and Vietnam, are involved in a territorial dispute over it.
- Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Philippines claims the Reef as part of its territory, specifically inside its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
- This issue is part of the wider and more complex South China Sea territorial disputes involving a number of regional countries.
- To assert its claims, the Philippines has sought international arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/3/philippines-accuses-chinese-vessels-of-swarming-reef-off-its-coast