THE Chinese presence in Rozul (Iroquois) Reef inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is gradually growing, a maritime transparency project that monitors and reports activities in the South China Sea said.

The seabed off Rozul Reef, which lies 125 nautical miles off Palawan, was the subject of recent extensive underwater surveys conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that found severe damage inflicted upon the marine environment and coral reefs where 33 Chinese maritime vessels were monitored to be 'swarming' for more than a month, from Aug. 9 to Sept. 11, 2023.