62 Chinese naval, coast guard ships spotted in West PH Sea in February

MANILA, March 8 ------ A total of 62 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels were monitored in the West Philippine Sea in February, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The ships from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) and China Coast Guard (CCG) were seen in the following features:

Bajo de Masinloc – 23 vessels (11 PLA-N, 12 CCG)

Ayungin Shoal – 17 vessels (2 PLA-N, 15 CCG)

Escoda Shoal – 13 vessels (6 PLA-N, 7 CCG)

Pag-asa Island – 9 vessels (5 PLA-N, 4 CCG)

"These figures reflect the continued illegal Chinese Communist Party (CCP) presence in areas wherein the Philippines exercises sovereignty, jurisdiction and sovereign rights," AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, across the country’s broader maritime domain, the Philippine Navy monitored a total of 18,360 vessels in February, reflecting sustained maritime activity within Philippine waters.

Of the total, 15,327 were foreign vessels while 3,033 were domestic vessels. A total of 13,523 vessels responded to radio challenges while 4,837 did not respond. Monitoring efforts remained distributed across key maritime areas nationwide, with heightened activity recorded in Northern Luzon, the West Philippine Sea, Western Mindanao, and Eastern Seaboard areas, consistent with established maritime traffic patterns and ongoing operational monitoring. "In line with national policy, the AFP remains committed to safeguarding national territory, sovereignty and sovereign rights, while upholding international law and contributing to regional peace and stability," Trinidad said.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com