PH Navy details growing Chinese presence in WPS in report

MANILA, January 8 ------ China has rejected a Philippine Navy assessment that warned of Beijing’s growing aggressiveness and coordinated maritime operations in the West Philippine Sea, even as the report laid out evidence of how China's navy, coast guard and maritime militia have increased deployments to assert control over the waters. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said it “firmly rejects the Philippine side’s so-called report,” calling it “full of misperceptions and bias against China” that “maliciously slanders China’s military activities” and “deliberately misleads the public.”

The Philippine Navy report described China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea and the broader South China Sea as part of a “coordinated, state-directed framework” aimed at establishing control over the region to “provide itself an economic, security and military advantage against all claimants and interfering states.”

According to the report, Beijing employs an integrated maritime force structure centered on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, operating alongside the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Chinese maritime militia (CMM), all working under the authority of the Central Military Commission (CMC). “This highlights the operational model of the CCG and militia units conducting frontline coercive actions in regular West Philippine Sea and South China Sea encounters while PLA Navy activities provide the necessary safeguard, enabling escalation control, deterrence and force projection,” the report said.

The Navy cited the National Security Policy (2023-2028), which identifies the West Philippine Sea as a critical national security concern, noting that China’s continuous illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive (ICAD) actions pose a direct challenge to Philippine territorial integrity, sovereign rights, and the safety of Filipino fishermen and government vessels. “Such activities are characterized by [China’s] enforcement of its domestic laws, fishing moratoriums, reclamation activities, harassment of Filipino fishermen and Philippine government vessels, and massive disinformation campaign,” the Navy said.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com