2 Chinese boats monitored near Aurora but PH Navy not alarmed

Two Chinese fishing boats were monitored in the east coast of the Philippines, Philippine Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad said on Tuesday.

“We have monitored them. Not only them but other maritime traffic within our exclusive economic zone and we are coordinating with the appropriate government agency on how to address this,” he said in a press briefing.

“Based on the report given to us last night, we have monitored the presence east coast of the country. As of this morning, I have to get the exact latitude and longitude,” he added.

In a post on X, former US Air Force official and ex-Defence Attaché Ray Powell said Chinese fishing boats Lu Rong Yu 51794 and Lu Yan Yuan Yu 017 were seen less than 20 nautical miles from the San Ildefonso Peninsula in Casiguran, Aurora.

For Trinidad, the presence of the Chinese boats is not alarming as more fishing boats from other countries are also monitored in the area.

“This is not alarming. It is not only the Chinese fishing boats that we monitor. There are other fishing boats from other countries all over our EEZ including ASEAN countries and the Pacific Island states,” he said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News