Brawner: 85% of over 400 foreign vessels in South China Sea are Chinese

Armed Forces chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Monday disclosed that 85% of the more than 400 foreign vessels in the South China Sea are Chinese.

"Well, at any one time, sa buong South China Sea, there are around 400... more than 400 na mga foreign vessels. Kasama na po dito 'yung mga fishing vessels, 'yung mga research vessels, Coast Guard, pati na rin 'yung mga navies ng iba't-ibang bansa (these includes fishing vessels, research vessels, Coast Guard, and the Navies of other countries)," Brawner told reporters at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. 

"Majority of these more than 400 vessels are Chinese vessels... according to the commander of WESCOM, Admiral Carlos, he said about 85% of all of these foreign vessels in the South China Sea are Chinese," he added.

China has maintained its stance that nearly the entire South China Sea— including Ayungin Shoal and other areas in the West Philippine Sea—is part of its historic territory.

This was despite an arbitral ruling invalidating its massive claims in the resource-rich region.

Beijing has since ignored this ruling and has taken "necessary controls" against Philippines boats that they claim are "illegally" entering its waters.

Earlier, a US maritime security expert said that a total of 21 Chinese maritime militia ships were spotted heading towards Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

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, according to former US Air Force official and ex-Defense attaché Ray Powell.

Powell also said that at least 19 Chinese militia ships also remained at the Ayungin Shoal.

Over the weekend, Brawner confirmed that a Chinese vessel "shadowed" a Philippine ship while on its resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea.

The BRP Laguna was shadowed by Chinese warship 630 during its resupply mission to Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Group of Islands near Palawan, inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The Chinese Embassy has yet to comment on this incident. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News