AFP: Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea further increased

The number of Chinese vessels seen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has increased further including warships, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Philippine Navy on Tuesday.

From August 13 to 19, the number of Chinese vessels that have been monitored in the WPS is 129. This is higher compared to 92 vessels recorded in the previous week.

Of the 129 Chinese vessels, 98 were Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMV), 18 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, and 13 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels.

Chinese vessels were spotted in the following WPS features from August 13 to 19:

• Bajo de Masinloc - 4 CCG, 3 PLAN, 6 CMMV
• Ayungin Shoal - 5 CCG, 41 CMMV
• Pagasa Islands - 1 CCG, 1 PLAN, 30 CMMV
• Kota Island - 3 CMMV
• Likas Island - 2 PLAN
• Lawak Island - 1 CCG, 2 PLAN, 3 CMMV
• Panata Island - 1 PLAN, 1 CMMV
• Patag Island - 2 CCG, 2 PLAN
• Escoda Shoal (Sabina Shoal) - 5 CCG, 2 PLAN, 12 CMMV
• Iroquois Reef - 2 CMMV

Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said that while the number of Chinese vessels has increased, it is still within the “acceptable” range.

"We constantly monitor their presence. The 129 total is still within the acceptable range that we have been monitoring for the past two to three months,” Trinidad said in a press briefing.

“Every now and then there will be fluctuations from 92 to 132. The highest in the past three months 156. So depending on conditions of the water of the sea out there then there will be changes, but overall it is within acceptable limits,” he added.

Asked about the big increase of Chinese vessels in Ayungin Shoal, Trinidad said, “I don't want to speculate on their presence in Ayungin Shoal.”

BRP Sierra Madre is grounded in Ayungin Shoal where China vessels have aggressively blocked Philippine boats conducting rotation and resupply missions.

Tensions continue amid China’s massive claim in the South China Sea (SCS), including the portion the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

The SCS 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 Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has not recognized the decision. —KG, GMA Integrated News