China nearly triples number of ships in West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — China has almost tripled the number of its military vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), with nine People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships spotted in the area from only three in the past few days, according to the Philippine Navy.

Three of the PLAN vessels were seen in the vicinity of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, two in the area of Pagasa Island and one each around Ayungin Shoal, Likas Island, Patag Island and the Del Pilar (Iroquois) Reef.

The number of maritime militia vessels, meanwhile, went down from 106 during the period of July 30 to Aug. 5 to only 68 between Aug. 6 and 12.

The Philippine Navy also said the number of China Coast Guard (CCG) boats in the WPS went up to 13 during the same period.

Five of the China coast guard vessels were spotted near Ayungin Shoal, three in Panatag Shoal, three others in the Sabina Shoal and two in the vicinity of Pagasa Island.

Overall, the Philippine Navy said the total number of Chinese vessels in various parts of the WPS actually decreased from 122 to 92.

They now also include two research vessels sighted roaming the waters of Ayungin Shoal where the grounded BRP Sierra Madre remains, and in the vicinity of Patag Island.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it will not be cowed by heightened Chinese aggression in Philippine waters, like last Thursday’s incident when Chinese jets dropped flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force plane on patrol over Panatag Shoal.

“Those flares simply flared up the sense of patriotism in every member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We will not be deterred from continuing to perform our mandate of securing the integrity of the national territory,” Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said.

“The recent incident by the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) will not deter our pilots from performing their mandate of conducting maritime air surveillance flights,” he stressed.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza confirmed yesterday the filing of a diplomatic protest over the incident.

Without giving details, Daza said the “Philippines adopts a