THE Philippine Navy (PN) reported on Tuesday that the number of Chinese ships spotted in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from September 17 to 23 has reached a record high of 251, surpassing the previous week’s count of 157 vessels. This marks the highest concentration of Chinese vessels in the WPS so far this year.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the WPS, attributed the sudden spike to improved weather conditions. He explained that the number of Chinese ships tends to decrease during weather disturbances, only to increase again once the weather improves.
The Navy’s report detailed the types of vessels observed:
204 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels (CMMVs)
28 China Coast Guard Vessels (CCGVs)
16 People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships
3 Chinese Research Survey Vessels (CRSVs)
The vessels were observed in various locations within the WPS, including:
Sabina (Escoda) Shoal: 55 CMMVs, 16 CCGVs, and 11 PLAN vessels
Ayungin Shoal: 9 CCGVs, 62 CMMVs, and 1 CRSV
Iroquois Reef: 38 CMMVs
Pagasa Island: 1 CCGV, 23 CMMVs, and 1 CRSV
Juan Felipe: 17 CMMVs
Bajo de Masinloc: 2 CCGVs, 2 PLAN, 7 CMMVs, and 1 CRSV
Likas: 3 PLAN warships
Panata: 2 CMMVs
The continued presence of a large number of Chinese vessels in the WPS remains a source of concern for the Philippines, which claims sovereignty over the area. The Philippine government has repeatedly called on China to respect international law and refrain from activities that violate the country’s sovereign rights.
metrosundaily
