Chinese ships in WPS down to 157 — PH Navy

The number of Chinese vessels monitored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has decreased to 157 from 207 last week, according to the Philippine Navy on Tuesday.

From Sept. 10 to 16, the Philippine Navy recorded 123 Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels, 26 China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, seven People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships, and one research vessel.

Chinese ships were spotted in the following WPS features:

• Bajo de Masinloc — six CCGs, three PLANs, eight CMMs, one research vessel
• Ayungin Shoal — 10 CCGs, seven CMMs
• Pagasa Islands — one CCG, 31 CMMs
• Lawak Island — four CMMs
• Panata Island — four CMMs
• Escoda Shoal — nine CCGs, four PLANs, 52 CMMs
• Iroquois Reef — 17 CMMs

In the previous week from Sept. 3 to 9, the Philippine Navy recorded the highest number of Chinese vessels spotted in the WPS for this year at 207.

Most of the Chinese ships were seen in Escoda Shoal.

BRP Teresa Magbanua, the largest vessel in the fleet of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), was pulled out Sunday from Escoda Shoal due to its questionable seaworthiness, lack of supplies for the crew, and bad weather conditions at sea.

According to the PCG, other vessels will replace BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal.

Despite China's presence, the PCG said Philippine vessels can still go to Escoda Shoal as it has many entry points.

China has been urging the Philippines to remove BRP Terera Magbanua from Escoda Shoal as the vessel's presence supposedly violated Chinese sovereignty.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry even lodged a formal protest over the presence of the Philippine ship in Escoda Shoal.

BRP Teresa Magbanua has been stationed in Escoda Shoal since April 15 amid reports of China’s reclamation activities in the area.

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

Tensions remain between the two countries 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. — VDV, GMA Integrated News