MANILA, August 21 ------ Over 100 Chinese vessels have been monitored in the West Philippine Sea including two People’s Liberation Army Navy ships in Escoda or Sabina Shoal, an area that has recently seen heightened tensions the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.
In a media briefing at the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said a total of 129 ships were monitored in the West Philippine Sea features from August 13 to 19. Broken down, the military spokesperson said, there have been 18 coast guard, 13 navy, and 98 maritime militia ships spotted in Philippine waters.
The number is an increase from the 92 ships recorded from August 6 to 12. Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, however, said the number of Chinese vessels in Philippine waters is “still within the acceptable range” — or within the numbers observed in the past two to three months. At one point, Trinidad said, there were 156 Chinese ships in Philippine waters. “The presence of the CCG, the maritime militia, and the PLA Navy is illegal,” Trinidad said. “Their actions are coercive and aggressive. Their messages are deceptive,” he also said.
He said the Philippine Navy will maintain its presence in the area as well. The Philippines has been more open about incidents in the West Philippine Sea and has been engaging security partners, including treaty ally and former colonizer the United States, as it asserts the 2016 arbitral ruling that found that China's nine-dash-line claim has no basis in international law.
China has refused to acknowledge the ruling and routinely blames incidents on the Philippine side. The policy-setting National Maritime Council on Tuesday scored China for the aggressive maneuvers of its ships that led to collisions with the coast guard’s BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño early Monday morning, but also said the Philippines will seek diplomatic and peaceful resolutions to disputes in the West Philippine Sea. "The government remains committed to the President's directive for a diplomatic approach and the peaceful resolution of disputes," it said, adding that Philippine operations in Philippine waters will continue. "The Philippines will continue to uphold its rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea; sustain our routine maritime activities; and protect its territory and maritime zones from environmental degradation and other illegal activities," the NMC said.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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