23 Chinese vessels monitored in West PH Sea amid inclement weather

MANILA, July 30 ------ A total of 23 Chinese Coast Guard and naval vessels were monitored in key areas in the West Philippine Sea over the past week, the Philippine Navy said.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad reported in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo that seven vessels from the China Coast Guard (CCG) and seven vessels from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) were seen in Bajo de Masinloc from July 21 to 27. Additional sightings include four CCG and two PLAN vessels in Ayungin Shoal; one PLAN vessel in Sabina Shoal; and one vessel each of the CCG and PLAN near Pag-asa Island. “Compared to the period covering 14 to 20 July, it is roughly the same—22 total for that period,” Trinidad told reporters.

The official noted that no Chinese vessels were monitored in Bajo de Masinloc on July 19 and 20, at the height of the inclement weather due to severe tropical storm Crising and the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat. Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and is well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

On the other hand, it is 472 nautical miles from Hainan Province, China’s nearest land mass. The shoal, however, has been under Beijing’s control since 2012.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com