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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Over 100 additional ships detected in West PH Sea -- US data analyst firm

Over 100 additional ships detected in West PH Sea -- US data analyst firm

Published Jun 29, 2021 01:39 pm

Over 100 additional ships were detected within the country’s maritime waters in the West Philippine Sea, a United States-based geospatial and data analyst firm reported.

In a data released by US geospatial intelligence firm Simularity on Sunday, June 20, it said that the number of ships in the country’s economic zone increased from 129 to 238.

The vessels, according to the firm, were “likely Chinese ships.”

(Photo courtesy of Simularity: https://simularity.com/june-2021-additional-100-ships-move-into-philippine-eez-since-may-bringing-total-to-238/)

“As of June 17, 2021, approximately 238 ships are in the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” the report said.

Between mid-May and mid-June, the firm said the number of ships of “likely Chinese ships” within the Union (Pagkakaisa) Banks increased from nine to 236.

The Simularity also bared that the number of ships near Gaven (Burgos) Reef in Tizard Bank decreased from 234 to 71.

(Photo courtesy of Simularity: https://simularity.com/june-2021-additional-100-ships-move-into-philippine-eez-since-may-bringing-total-to-238/)
(Photo courtesy of Simularity: https://simularity.com/june-2021-additional-100-ships-move-into-philippine-eez-since-may-bringing-total-to-238/)

Meanwhile, it added that there were at least 11 ships in the Thitu (Pag-asa) Island, under the Kalayaan municipality in Palawan.

The firm also reported that approximately 120 of these Chinese ships still remain in the country’s EEZ, which they are primarily located on the Philippine side of Tizard Bank in the Spratly Islands last May.

The Simularity is a company that uses geospatial data to determine when significant changes have happened to a certain area, according to its profile.

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, June 23, called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to summon China’s ambassador to the Philippines once again to inquire about the presence of 100 additional Chinese vessels reportedly within the country’s maritime territory.

READ MORE: Hontiveros asks DFA to summon China again over additional ships at WPS

“We’ve been protesting for months, making an appeal, making a stand, but all of our actions are being ignored. And instead of leaving our territory and following the law, it seems they increased the number of their huge vessels,” she said.

In March, the country protested the presence of around 220 Chinese vessels believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia at the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

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US data analyst firm chinese ships West Philippine Sea
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