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MANILA: The Duterte administration has “always been consistent” in invoking Philippines’ sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“The National Task Force on West Philippine Sea has always been consistent in invoking Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights over West Philippine Sea,” said Roque in a statement.

Roque cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s (pic) move to raise the importance of the 2016 arbitral ruling, favoring the Philippines’ claims in the disputed waters, before the United Nations General Assembly in September last year.

Malacañang assured the presence of Philippine maritime security and law enforcement forces in Kalayaan, Palawan has been beefed up to protect Filipino fishermen and marine resources. The municipality is near the islands reclaimed by Chinese and surrounded by China-based maritime militia vessels, despite those being under the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The Philippine government filed diplomatic protests against China for the continued presence of over 200 Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea. On Tuesday night, the government task force reported that 240 Chinese ships were spotted around Pagkakaisa Banks and Pag-asa Islands, including the nine vessels that were still at Julian Felipe Reef.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also asserted the country’s claims in the West Philippine Sea when it summoned China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Monday.

The 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling said there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights over most of the South China Sea using its “nine-dash line” assertion. It also recognized Philippine sovereign rights in marine features within its exclusive economic zone and said Beijing violated those rights by interfering with fishing and petroleum exploration as well as constructing artificial islands. – CNN Philippines

China has repeatedly refused to recognize the tribunal ruling and continued to reclaim islands in the disputed areas for military and research purposes.