AFP monitors over 200 Chinese ships in WPS, highest for this year

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it has monitored a total of 203 Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the past week, the highest number for this year.

“This is the highest we have recorded in the vicinity of our nine occupied features in WPS for this year. While it is not normal, it is within the range of the capability they could project in the SCS/WPS,” Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinindad told reporters.

From August 27 to September 2, a total of 165 Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels, 24 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, 12 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships, and two research vessels were seen in the area.

These Chinese vessels were seen in the following WPS features:

• Bajo de Masinloc - six CCGs, one PLAN, eight CMMs, one research vessel
• Ayungin Shoal - eight CCGs, one PLAN, 17 CMMs
• Pagasa Islands - one CCG, one PLAN, 50 CMMs
• Kota Island - one CMM
• Rizal Reef - one research vessel
• Escoda Shoal - nine CCGs, nine PLANs, 53 CMMs
• Iroquois Reef - 36 CMMs

Most Chinese vessels were spotted in Escoda Shoal, where recent aggressive actions by China were reported.

“We can attribute the surge to the attention given to Sabina/Escoda Shoal in the last few weeks. Nevertheless, the increase in numbers will not justify their illegal presence, their coercive and aggressive actions and their deceptive narratives,” Trinidad said.

“The Philippine Navy - and the AFP - will continue to perform its mandate to protect our territory as we  uphold  international law and contribute to regional peace and stability. As to their plans, I do not want to speculate but rest assured we have contingencies in place as we continue to protect our territory,” he added.

On Saturday, the Philippine government reported that a CCG vessel "intentionally" and repeatedly rammed the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal.

On August 26, CCG ships blocked two PCG vessels on a rotation and reprovisioning mission to the BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal.

On August 25, CCG vessels rammed and used a water cannon on the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' BRP Datu Sanday near Escoda Shoal.

On August 19, CCG vessels also had collisions with PCG vessels near Escoda while the latter were on their way to deliver supplies to Patag and Lawak Islands.

More incidents involving China and the Philippines were reported in other WPS features in the past weeks.

The Philippine government is contemplating on whether to lodge another arbitral case against China over the latest incident in Escoda Shoal where a CCG vessel 'intentionally' rammed BRP Teresa Magbanua, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said on Monday.

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. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA Integrated News