Patrols reveal 6 China navy ships, 240 militia in West Philippine Sea

Six vessels of the Chinese navy, including at least three warships, have been spotted in the West Philippine Sea by Philippine sovereignty patrols in the area.

According to tweets by GMA News' Joseph Morong, the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said the patrols spotted two Houbei class missile warships at Panganiban Reef, one Corvette class warship at Kagitingan Reef, and one navy tugboat at Zamora Reef.

There were also two People's Liberation Army Navy vessels seen in Bajo de Masinloc.

"All these warships of the PLA Navy contribute to the militarization of the area," the NTF-WPS said in a statement.

The presence of the Chinese navy vessels were on top of the estimated 240 Chinese militia vessels scaterred in the territorial waters off Kalayaan in Palawan and in the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

"The latest round of sovereignty patrols conducted by the Philippine Government on April 11 observed an estimated two hundred forty Chinese vessels lingering in the WPS," read the statement.

Of the 240 Chinese militia, 136 are at Burgos Reef, nine at Julian Felipe Reef, 65 at Chigua Reef, six at Panganiban Reef, three at Zamora Reef, four at Pag-asa Islands, one at Likas Island, five at Kota Island, and 11 at Ayungin Shoal.

NTF-WPS estimated that the continued presence of Chinese fishing vessels could catch one ton of fish amounts to a conservative total of 240,000 kilograms of fish illegally taken from Philippine waters.

"These acts fall under illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing," it added.

In another patrol of Philippine Coast Guard, the NTF-WPS also found Chinese poachers collecting giant clams at the Pag-asa Islands.

The illegal poachers quickly left the area after they were approached by the PCG.

"This is a violation of Philippine fisheries and wildlife laws, and the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wilde Fauna and Flora," the statement read.

The NTF-WPS said the warships and "swarming of Chinese vessels" were a threat to the safety of navigation and life at sea and impedes Filipinos' right to benefit from marine wealth at its maritime territory.

It reiterated its demand that China withdraw all its vessels from Kalayaan and the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier summoned the Chinese Ambassador to the country to tackle its concerns over the presence of Chinese boats at the Julian Felipe Reef, which caused tension between the two Asian countries.

The Philippine military had previously said that it would conduct joint exercises with US forces amid the growing incursions of China at WPS.

China has consistently ignored the arbitral ruling which favored Philippines' claims over the West Philippine Sea as it maintained its historical claim over the Julian Felipe Reef.

Chinese government also previously stated that its vessels will not permanently stay at Julian Felipe Reef. It also rejected claims that its fishing vessels were manned by maritime militia. --Consuelo Marquez/NB, GMA News