MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has monitored 203 Chinese vessels in the contested West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the past week.
According to the AFP, 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 from August 27 to September 2.
In Bajo de Masinloc , six CCGs, one PLAN, eight CMMs, and one research vessel were spotted, while eight CCGs, one PLAN, and 17 CMMs were monitored at Ayungin Shoal.
In Pagasa Island, one CCG, one PLAN, and 50 CMMs were seen while nine CCGs, nine PLANs, 53 CMMs were spotted in Escoda Shoal the past week.
One CMM was monitored in Kota Island, one research vessel was spotted in the Rizal Reef, and 36 CMMs were at Iroquois Reef.
The AFP said the 203 were the highest number of Chinese vessels monitored in the contested waters this year.
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”, but China refused to recognize the decision./PN
