MANILA: The Philippine Navy on Tuesday (Sept 24) said the number of Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea - an area in the South China Sea the Philippines claims as its territorial waters - reached record high for this year at 251.
This is the highest concentration of Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea so far this year, Philippine Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad (pic) said in a press briefing.
Trinidad said a total of 28 Chinese Coastguard ships, 16 People’s Liberation Army Navy warships, 204 Chinese maritime militia vessels and three Chinese research and survey vessels were recorded in the week-long monitoring from Sept 17 to 23.
This was higher than China’s deployment of 157 vessels in the preceding week from Sept 10 to 16.
Trinidad said the highest number of Chinese vessels were sighted in Sabina Shoal, following the departure of Philippine Coastguard ship BRP Teresa Magbanua, and in Second Thomas Shoal where the Philippines has grounded an old navy ship serving as navy outpost.
Several supply missions by the Philippine Coastguard and the navy to Second Thomas Shoal have been blocked, rammed or harassed by Chinese vessels in the recent past.
Trinidad added that Chinese vessels usually leave during bad weather but return once the area is clear.
The navy official was not surprised by the increase as he said it remains within the force projection capability of China’s South Sea Fleet, the maritime force that Beijing maintains in the entire South China Sea.
He stressed that the presence of Chinese vessels in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone remains "illegal.” - dpa
