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Fewer Chinese ships monitored in WPS amid bad weather - PH Navy

  • Writer: Balitang Marino
    Balitang Marino
  • Sep 24
  • 2 min read

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September 24 ------ The Philippine Navy reported a dip in the number of Chinese vessels in parts of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in September. 


Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said that there have been 12 Chinese vessels monitored in parts of the WPS, which is down from the usual average of 14 to 20 ships from Beijing. "For the past one week it has been constant, but if we compare this with the average of our monthly monitoring, bumaba ito yung sa Bajo de Masinloc and sa Ayungin Shoal," said Trinidad. 


Broken down, these are 9 Chinese Coast Guard vessels seen in Bajo de Masinloc, one PLA Navy ship in Pagasa Island, and 2 more Chinese vessels in Ayungin Shoal. "This is on account of the weather, Typhoon Nando and the one previous to Nando, Walang noted increase under presence but there was a dip compared to the previous week's reporting and this last week. Again, on account of the weather," Trinidad explained.  


Last week, the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China for its dangerous maneuvers that caused significant damage to one of its vessels and injury to a Filipino crew during an incident at Scarborough Shoal. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.


Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as the West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."


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