21 China ships head for Pag-asa Island, 19 remain in Ayungin –security expert

A US maritime security expert said Saturday that 21 Chinese maritime militia ships were spotted heading towards Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Former US Air Force official and ex-Defense attaché Ray Powell said on Twitter that the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Cabra found itself in the midst of a redeployment of the Chinese vessels traveling northwards to Pag-asa Island.

The 21 Chinese vessels were believed to be among those swarming at the Ayungin Shoal during the August 5 incident when the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) performed dangerous maneuvers and illegally used water cannons against Philippine vessels that were on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.

“The militia and the coast guard that surged into that area, it seems to me were probably there longer than their normal rotation so I think after the mission, they just previously planned for them all to go back,” he said in a report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

“I think that they weren’t expecting it as per normally scheduled… I’m not sure what they’re going to do if, as it has been indicated by the AFP, that they would do something within the next couple of weeks,” he added.

At least 19 Chinese militia ships also remained at the Ayungin Shoal, according to Powell.

“Any CCG ships still in the area have remained [automatic identification system]-dark, as have any PLA Navy ships (always dark),” he tweeted.

Powell said three CCG vessels that took part in the blockade returned to Hainan Island, while three others remained “AIS-dark and are unaccounted for.”

China claimed that the Philippine government had promised to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal, which Beijing calls Ren’ai Jiao.

However, on Wednesday, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. denied that the Philippine government made such a promise to China.

A note verbale was also sent to China following the incident in the Ayungin Shoal.

GMA News Online sought comment from the PCG regarding the recent developments in the WPS, but it had yet to respond as of posting time. — DVM, GMA Integrated News