PH to station Coast Guard ship in Julian Felipe Reef

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced on Monday that the Philippines will not station navy ships but instead a coast guard ship will be stationed at Julian Felipe Reef to avoid provoking China.

The decision comes in response to hundreds of Chinese vessels massed within Philippine waters since March 7, with Beijing claiming they are fishing boats.

Lorenzana stated that while a coast guard ship will remain continuously stationed there, navy ships will patrol the area to monitor the situation without escalating tensions.