Chinese ships in WPS increased to 122 — AFP

The number of Chinese vessels monitored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has increased to 122, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday.

AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said 106 Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMM), 12 China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, and three People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships were recently seen in the area.

"From the period July 30 to Aug. 5, 2024, the total Chinese vessels in the area are 122," she said in a press conference.

"Broken down to 12 CCG, three PLA Navy, and 106 CMM vessels, seen in Bajo de Masinloc, Ayungin Shoal, Pagasa Island, Lawak Island, Panata Island, Patag Island, Sabina Shoal, Julian Felipe Reef and Iroquois Reef," she added.

The distribution of the monitored Chinese vessels on WPS features are as follows:

• Bajo de Masinloc — three CCGs, six CMMs, one PLAN
• Ayungin Shoal — five CCGs, eight CMMs
• Pag-asa Islands — one CCG, 37 CMMs
• Kota Island — two CMMs
• Lawak Island — one CCG, four CMMs
• Panata Island — two PLANs, three CMMs
• Patag Island — one CCG
• Escoda Shoal — one CCG, 12 CMM, one Chinese research vessel
• Julian Felipe Reef — four CMMs
• Rozul Reef (Iroquois Reef) — 30 CMMs

The total figure of 122 is higher compared to the 104 Chinese vessels recorded in the previous week.

China research vessel in Escoda

Over the weekend, former United States Air Force official and former defense attaché Ray Powell reported that Chinese research vessel Ke Xue San Hao has been "surveying" around Escoda Shoal since July 25 and was located 40 nautical miles off Palawan.

During the press conference on Tuesday, Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said that the Chinese survey ship did not request to conduct marine scientific research.

"We have checked with the [Department of Foreign Affairs], no request to conduct marine scientific research," Trinidad told reporters.

"We have to leave it up to our appropriate government agency how to deal with hydrographic surveys or marine scientific research within our [exclusive economic zone]," he added.

Escoda or Sabina Shoal is located 75 nautical miles or about 140 kilometers off Palawan and considered to be within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

It is a coral reef formation with a central lagoon surrounded by discontinuous shallow sections.

Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) BRP Teresa Magbanua has been stationed in Escoda Shoal since April amid reports of China's reclamation activities in the area.

"[Ke Xue San Hao] has exhibited irregular AIS (Automatic Identification System) transmissions while navigating in the northern part of Escoda Shoal," PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said.

The Chinese research vessel is equipped with advanced technology that enables comprehensive marine environment observation, detection, sampling, and analysis, according to Tarriela.

China has a massive claim in the South China Sea, including waters the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

The South China Sea is a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Aside from the Philippines, China has overlapping claims in the area with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China, however, has rejected the ruling. — VDV, GMA Integrated News