More Chinese ships seen in WPS, PH Navy says

The number of Chinese military, Coast Guard, and research ships monitored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has increased, according to the Philippine Navy on Tuesday.

From August 6 to 12, the Philippine Navy recorded nine People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships, 13 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, and two research vessels in the WPS. 

These are higher compared to the three PLAN ships, 12 CCG vessels, and one research ship monitored in the previous week.

Meanwhile, the number of Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels decreased from 106 to 68.

According to the Philippine Navy, a total of 92 Chinese ships were seen in the following features in the WPS from August 6 to 12:

Bajo de Masinloc - 3 CCG, 6 CMM

Ayungin Shoal - 5 CCG, 1 PLAN, 4 CMM, 1 research vessel

Pagasa Islands - 2 CCG, 2 PLAN, 37 CMM

Likas Island - 1 PLAN

Lawak Island - 2 CMM

Panata Island - 6 CMM

Patag Island - 1 PLAN, 1 research vessel

Sabina Shoal - 3 CCG, 3 PLAN, 13 CMM

Iroquois Reef - 1 PLANO

On August 7, a CCG ship shadowed a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that was providing assistance to Filipino fishermen in the WPS.

During the joint military drills of the Philippines, United States, Australia, and Canada on in the WPS on August 7 to 8, three PLAN vessels were seen including Wuzhou (FSG 626) Jiangdao II Class Corvette, Huangshan (FFG 570) Jiankai II Class Corvette, and Qujing (FSG 668) Jiangdao II Class Corvette.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

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

Earlier, the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China after Beijing’s air force performed dangerous actions in Scarborough Shoal.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the act, describing it as “unjustified, illegal and reckless.”

“The President strongly condemns the air incident in Bajo de Masinloc earlier this week, and stands by our brave men and women of the AFP, especially the Philippine Air Force,” the Presidential Communications Office said.

In July, Philippines and China sought to de-escalate and manage disputes in the West Philippine Sea amid the spike of violent confrontations between the two sides.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News