China continues to flex its muscles in the West Philippine Sea with the presence of 40 more vessels last week compared to what was monitored by the Philippine Navy in the previous week.
A total of 163 Chinese vessels were monitored from Aug. 20 to 26 but the Philippine Navy said it increased to 203 from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2.
Based on the Philippine Navy data, most of the Chinese vessels were monitored at the Sabina Shoal with 71 and the Pagasa Island with 52 from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2 compared to 53 and 35, respectively from Aug. 20 to 26.
Of the 71 vessels spotted near the Sabina Shoal, 53 of them were Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, nine were Chinese Coast Guard and nine were navy vessels from the People’s Liberation Army.
The Sabina Shoal is where the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Teresa Magbanua is stationed. Last week, a Chinese vessel rammed it in what experts believed to be a strategy to force it to leave the area for a full Chinese control.
A Philippine Coast Guard official earlier said that the Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels are being used by China for increased presence and even harassment of Philippine vessels.
The Navy data also reported an increase of the Chinese vessels at the Ayungin Shoal where Philippine troops were stationed on board the BRP Sierra Madre. From 22 in the period of Aug. 20 to 26, it increased to 26 from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2- the increase is mostly via the Chinese Coast Guard.
Other areas where Chinese vessels were monitored were at the Scarborough Shoal, Iroquois Reef, Rizal Reef and Kota Island.