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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 14 Chinese vessels spotted in West PH Sea anew but PH Navy not alarmed

14 Chinese vessels spotted in West PH Sea anew but PH Navy not alarmed

Published Feb 13, 2024 07:23 am
commodore roy Vincent trinidad.jpg
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (Photo by Martin Sadongdong / MANILA BULLETIN)

A total of 14 Chinese vessels were monitored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Tuesday, Feb. 13, but the Philippine Navy (PN) was not alarmed as this was considered a "regular force" deployment, an official said.

A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and four Chinese maritime militia  posing as fishing vessels were spotted near Pagasa (Thitu) Island, the largest military outpost by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the disputed waters, according to Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for WPS.

Further, there was another CCG vessel in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal where the BRP Sierra Madre outpost is located while there were five maritime militia in Panata Island (Loaita Cay); two maritime militia in Kota Island (Loaita Island); and one maritime militia in Parola Island (Northeast Cay).

Meanwhile, the PN did not see any Chinese vessel in Patag (Flat) Island, Rizal (Commodore) Reef, Likas (West York) Island, and Lawak (Nanshan) Island.

Together, the mentioned islands, shoal and reefs make up all the nine Philippine-occupied features in the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Island). 

"The normalcy of the South China Sea will not depend on the numbers [of Chinese vessels]. It's not alarming if the numbers will be high. What is alarming are the actions, not the number of ships or vessels," Trinidad explained.

In fact, Trinidad bared that the maximum number of deployment of Chinese forces in the entire South China Sea could range from 200 to 250 maritime militia, 15 to 25 People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ships, and 10 to 15 coast guard vessels.

"They could surge that towards the Philippine side, the EEZ [exclusive economic zone], but they could also [extend] it to Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia," he said.

While no unusual activity was observed when the Chinese vessels were spotted, their mere presence inside the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines is what's being protested by various groups and stakeholders, particularly the Filipino fishermen who are being deprived of precious catch.

China claims the majority of the expanse waters in South China Sea, including the WPS or those within the 200-nautical mile EEZ of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Trinidad confirmed that two PLA Navy ships were present during the third Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) by the PN and United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) last Friday, Feb. 9.

Trinidad said that the Chinese navy warships did not interfere with the PN and US INDOPACOM's joint patrol in the WPS.

This was completely different from the behavior of China Coast Guard vessels in Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag Shoal / Scarborough Shoal) where their ships were accused of harassing Filipino fishermen.

"It's very obvious that in Scarborough, they prevent or they harass our fisherfolks," Trinidad said. 

"The general direction we have to understand, the broad direction of China, is to control the South China Sea. A simple change in actions or behavior does not indicate a change in their character," he noted.

Related Tags

Armed Forces of the Philippines AFP West Philippine Sea (WPS) PH-China Philippine Navy
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