Wescom confirms ‘swarming’ of Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea

The Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has confirmed the “swarming” of several Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

According to JP Soriano’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, said the gathering of the Chinese boats happened more than three weeks after China's coast guard reportedly took metal debris that the Philippine side had been towing.

The swarming happened some two weeks after the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest on the incident involving the debris.

Asked about the date when the Wescom last monitored the Chinese vessels, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos said, “Yesterday, we sent out a patrol and they’re still there.”

Carlos said the Wescom saw the Chinese vessels near Sabina Shoal these past few months.

“Sabina Shoal or Escoda, it’s well within our Exclusive Economic Zone. About 20 vessels at any one time there. Fishing ang sabi nilang ginagawa nila,” Carlos said.

The Wescom, which guards the Kalayaan Islands, said these vessels went near Palawan despite the note verbale sent by the Philippines.

The alleged swarming of Chinese vessels happened while 12th ASEAN Maritime Forum was held in the Philippines.

“There must be no doubt that for ASEAN, we uniformly subscribe to the UNCLOS as an instrument of international law,” Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said during his keynote speech.

The DFA-Office of ASEAN Affairs said the issues related to the South China Sea will be discussed.

“That issues related to the South China Sea were discussed and I think will be discussed again today,” Noel Novicio, DFA-Office of ASEAN Affairs Assistant Secretary said.

In a message to GMA News Online on Wednesday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said the AFP and Wescom would continue to conduct maritime patrols in the WPS to protect and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

“We have monitored continuing and repeated violations against the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by foreign vessels and these are being reported to and acted upon by concerned agencies,” he said.

“Guided by the pronouncements and policy direction of our Commander-in-Chief President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., the AFP stands ready to secure the national interests of our Republic.” —Richa Noriega and Joviland Rita/NB, GMA Integrated News