PH Navy: Number of Chinese vessels in WPS still 'acceptable'

Despite the increased number of Chinese vessels recently found in various maritime features in the West Philippine Sea, an official of the Philippine Navy (PN) said Wednesday that they are still considered within the “acceptable limits.”

Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said that the People's Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) South Sea Fleet could muster around 75 to 80 ships and submarines.

As of Tuesday, the Navy’s data showed a total of 146 Chinese vessels were spotted in eight maritime features from June 4 to 10. Of which, 22 were PLAN vessels.

"Kung titignan natin ang buong kakayanan ng South Sea Fleet, hindi pa naman ‘to alarming, ‘yung current increase, sapagkat it is well within the capability of the South Sea Fleet,” Trinidad said at a public briefing.

(If we look at the full capability of the South Sea Fleet, the current increase in vessels is not yet alarming because the number is still well within the capability of the South Sea Fleet.)

“What will be concerning is 'pag ito ay may mga pwersa sila galing sa ibang fleet nila—the East Sea Fleet or the North Sea Fleet. But so far 'yung increase in numbers is still within our acceptable limits," he added.

(What will be concerning is if they will deploy forces from their other fleets such as the East Sea Fleet or the North Sea Fleet. But so far, the increase in numbers is still within our acceptable limits.)

Aside from the PLAN vessels, the Philippine Navy also detected 108 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels (CMMV) and 16 were China Coast Guard vessels (CCGV).

The 146 total Chinese vessels found in the recent covered period were higher compared to the 125 vessels monitored from May 28 to June 3.

Most of them or 50 Chinese vessels were located at the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), which is 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

There were 42 vessels also detected at Pag-asa Island, and 33 were at the Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal).

Some vessels were also seen at Kota Island, Likas Island, Lawak Island, Panata Island, and Sabina Shoal.

Trinidad had attributed the increase in number of Chinese vessels, particularly those by the PLAN in the WPS, to the exercises conducted in the Sabina Shoal earlier this month.

During the exercise, the Chinese military launched a hovercraft and aircraft and performed maneuvers at sea. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News