MANILA, Philippines — A total of 203 China-flagged vessels are currently inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, marking the record-high deployment of Chinese vessels for this year, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday.
In its latest data, AFP said between August 27 and September 2, a total of 165 Chinese maritime militia vessels, 24 China Coast Guard vessels, 12 People’s Liberation Army Navy ships, and two research vessels were spotted in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
These vessels are monitored patrolling inside of the following shoals:
- Bajo de Masinloc – six CCGs, one PLAN, eight CMMs, one research vessel
- Ayungin Shoal – eight CCGs, one PLAN, 17 CMMs
- Pagasa Islands – one CCG, one PLAN, 50 CMMs
- Kota Island – one CMM
- Rizal Reef – one research vessel
- Escoda Shoal – nine CCGs, nine PLANs, 53 CMMs
- Iroquois Reef – 36 CMMs
Of the shoals monitored, AFP said most Chinese vessels are inside the Escoda Shoal, where a number of Chinese’s “dangerous and unlawful” maneuvers were recorded.
The latest collision over the weekend damaged the 320-foot Teresa Magbanua, one of the Philippines’ largest coast guard cutters, but no personnel were injured, according to spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela.
China has fired back, claiming it was the Philippines that rammed the China Coast Guard vessel, a charge that Tarriela denied, contradicting reports from a Chinese media agency.
Defense and maritime security expert Ray Powell noted on Tuesday, before the AFP data was released, that a Chinese research vessel was currently within 85 nautical miles off the coast of Southern Palawan, while a China Coast Guard vessel was within 50 nautical miles of the same area.
China’s sweeping claims in the West Philippine Sea were rejected by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in a 2016 ruling, which stated that Beijing has no legal basis for its claims in the South China Sea (now West Philippine Sea). However, China has continued to assert its force in the disputed waters.
Despite an agreement being “reached,” the two nations continue to seek peaceful access to the maritime region, with China still confronting Filipino authorities patrolling the area.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to inform the public about its recently filed protest against Beijing and the status of ongoing dialogues with China aimed at resolving the long-standing dispute.
