Over 20 Chinese ships spotted in Palawan waters - PCG

October 8 ------ The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) observed that there were more than 20 Chinese vessels spotted in the vicinity waters of Pag-asa Island, Palawan yesterday, GMA News' Ivan Mayrina reported in "24 Oras."

The ships that are from the Chinese Maritime Militia and the Chinese Coast Guard were hovering in the island’s waters. The PCG said they observed that there were more ships earlier and that some already left Pag-asa Island’s waters.

Last month, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), there have been more than 100 Chinese ships recorded within the West Philippine Sea (WPS). “Month of September, we monitored 101 different vessels ng Coast Guard at ng PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy. Ito naman, if we look at it over a longer period of time, let's say six month period kagaya ng first sem assessment natin, na dumami ang kanilang Coast Guard vessels...based on their posture, they will be focusing on enforcing maritime law, 'yung maling pananaw niya sa maritime law, utilizing 'yung China Coast Guard ships para i-push nila ang kanilang mandato,” AFP spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said.

Pag-asa Island is a hotspot for these Chinese ships, together with Escoda Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc. Last week, Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked Philippine officials from responding to a Chinese fishing vessel performing illegal dynamite fishing at the Sandy Cay near Pag-asa Island. Meanwhile, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan led the activation of the Coast Guard Auxiliary District in the Kalayaan Island District on Wednesday.

Gavan said that these citizens have an important role in overseeing the country’s sovereignty. “Hindi tayo nahihinaan ng loob. We will match them hangga't kaya natin. Ship for ship, patrol for patrol. 'Yung mga maling naratibo nila, kino-correct natin sa tamang naratibo,” Trinidad said.

Source: gmanetwork.com