AFP monitors 56 Chinese coast guard, naval vessels in West PH Sea in August

MANILA, September 6 ------ The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it monitored 56 China Coast Guard (CCG) and People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) vessels in key areas in the West Philippine Sea in August.

The highest number was recorded at Bajo de Masinloc with 23 Chinese vessels, including 14 CCG and 9 PLA-N ships. This was followed by Ayungin Shoal with 18 vessels, composed of 17 CCG ships and one PLA-N warship. At Escoda Shoal, the AFP monitored nine Chinese vessels, including five CCG ships and four PLA-N warships.

Another six were monitored around Pag-asa Island, including one PLA-N and five CCG vessels. “The focus of the monthly monitoring is to give everybody a picture of the continued illegal presence of the CCG and the PLA-Navy. For the entire month of August, we monitored 56 different ships of the CCG and PLA-N,” Retired Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad (Reserve), AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Beyond the West Philippine Sea, the AFP monitored a total of 18,534 vessels operating within “areas of interest” from August 1 to 31. These included 2,545 domestic vessels and 15,989 foreign vessels. Of the total, 12,502 vessels responded to radio challenges, while 6,032 vessels did not.

According to the military, the monitoring and challenging procedures are a vital component of its maritime domain awareness efforts allowing the AFP to detect, identify and assess vessels operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Source: news.abs-cbn.com