AFP monitors 48 Chinese ships in WPS in July

MANILA, August 8 ------ A total of 48 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels were monitored across four key features of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in July, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced.

In a message to the Philippine News Agency, AFP spokesperson for the WPS, Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said the ships from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the China Coast Guard vessels (CCG) were detected in Ayungin Shoal, Bajo de Masinloc, Escoda Shoal, and Pag-asa Islands.

Of the total, 14 vessels (13 CCGV and one PLAN) were recorded at Ayungin Shoal, 22 (19 CCGV and three PLAN) at Bajo de Masinloc, four (three CCGV, one PLAN) at Escoda Shoal, and eight (five CCGV, three PLAN) at Pag-asa Islands. "These figures underscore the continued conduct of ICAD (illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive) activities that undermine the rules-based international order and challenge the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction within its maritime domain," the AFP spokesperson said.

Trinidad said such actions contribute to regional tensions and highlight the importance of continued vigilance and adherence to international law. "Despite these developments, the Philippine Navy (PN) and the AFP remain steadfast in fulfilling their mandate to safeguard the nation's maritime interests," he said.

Through sustained operational presence, enhanced maritime domain awareness, strengthened inter-agency coordination, and continued capability development, Trinidad said the AFP remains committed to protecting national sovereignty, upholding maritime security, and promoting peace, stability, and the rule of law in the WPS.

The 48 ships sighted at the WPS last July are lower than the 74 detected last June. For the whole maritime domain of the country, the AFP, through the PN, monitored a total of 20,749 vessels last July. Of the total, around 3,071 vessels were domestic players while 7,678 were foreign vessels. “Of these, 14,180 vessels responded to radio challenges, while 6,569 vessels did not," Trinidad said.

The AFP official explained that the monitoring and challenge procedures form a vital component of the AFP’s maritime domain awareness efforts. "Through sustained vigilance and operational presence, the PN continues to reinforce national sovereignty and contribute to the safety, security, and stability of the maritime environment," he added.

Source: pna.gov.ph