Two-hundred fifty-one Chinese vessels, including three research ships, were spotted operating in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Navy (PN) said Tuesday, Sept. 24, setting a new record-high in terms of China's (WPS) deployment within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for WPS, said a total of 28 China Coast Guard (CCG) ships, 16 People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) warships, 2014 Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMVs), and three Chinese research and survey vessels (CRSVs) were recorded in the week-long monitoring in the WPS from Sept. 17 to 23.
This is higher compared to China’s deployment of 157 vessels in the preceding week from Sept. 10 to 16.
Trinidad said the sharp increase could be correlated to the “ongoing activities” in the WPS, particularly in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal following the departure of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship BRP Teresa Magbanua, and the recent storms.
“Historically, each time there is a weather disturbance, the numbers go down and they come back after the weather disturbance. It so happened that last week it was 157. We had a weather disturbance, they cleared the area. They came back to from 157 to 251,” he said.
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.
But he said that the presence of Chinese vessels in the Philippines’ EEZ remains “illegal.”
“The presence of the maritime militia, the PLA Navy and the Chinese Coast Guard have been illegal since we started monitoring them,” Trinidad said.
Escoda Shoal swarming
Majority of the Chinese vessels were deployed in Escoda Shoal, which lies approximately 75 nautical miles (140 kilometers) from Palawan and is previously guarded by BRP Teresa Magbanua. The ship left her post last Sept. 14 but a replacement ship has been deployed to monitor the area, according to authorities.
There were a total of 82 vessels in Escoda Shoal during the monitoring period: 16 CCG ships, 11 PLA-N warships, and 55 CMMVs.
But Trinidad stressed that the military has always been present in Escoda Shoal despite the departure of BRP Teresa Magbanua.
“Kailanman hindi nawala ang presensya ng Armed Forces of the Philippines sa Escoda o Sabina Shoal (Ever since, the Armed Forces of the Philippines did not lose its presence in Escoda or Sabina Shoal), we have always been there. The objective is monitoring,” he said.
Meanwhile, a notable increase of Chinese vessels was also observed in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, where World War II-era ship BRP Sierra Madre has been ran aground, totaling 72. There were nine CCG ships, 62 and a CRSV in Ayungin.
Other features with presence of Chinese vessels are Likas Island, Panata Island, Julian Felipe Reef, and Iroquois Reef.
Research surveys in WPS
Aside from Ayungin, Chinese research and survey vessels were also seen in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) and Pag-asa (Thitu) Island.
The monitoring showed that two CCGV ships, two PLA-N warships, seven CMMVs and one CRSV was spotted in Bajo de Masinloc while there were 23 CMMVs, one CCGV ship and one CRSV in Pag-asa Island.
It was not clear if one of the three CRSVs was the same Chinese research ship spotted exploring just about 27 nautical miles from Palawan by maritime security analyst Ray Powell on Monday.
Powell, a retired US Air Force colonel, said the research ship was escorted by six Chinese maritime militia vessels.
“It was monitored by [the] Western Command. They sent a Coast Guard and three Navy ships to check on the reported presence of this research vessel. It so happened when they got to the vicinity, the research vessel was not there anymore. Our tracking is it exited southwest direction from the last reported position,” Trinidad said.
‘Aerial harassment’
Meanwhile, the PN expressed support for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) after one of its patrol aircraft was shadowed by a Chinese attack aircraft while on a patrol mission in Bajo de Masinloc last Saturday.
“These are unsafe maneuvers. They are uncalled for, unprofessional,” Trinidad said. “[A]ctions like this have no place in the aviation industry.”
He said the PN, on behalf of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has been coordinating with the BFAR to safely conduct its patrol missions in the WPS.
“We will continue to perform our mandate of ensuring the integrity of our territory,” he said.