(File photo courtesy of AFP Western Command)
MANILA – The number of Chinese ships spotted in various features of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has dropped, the majority of which are still swarming the Sabina Shoal (also known as Escoda Shoal), the Philippine Navy (PN) said Tuesday.
In its latest monitoring, the Navy said a total of 157 Chinese vessels were sighted in the WPS from Sept. 10 to 16, down from 207 ships logged from Sept. 3 to 9.
The latest figure includes 123 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels (CMMVs), 26 China Coast Guard Vessels (CCGVs), seven People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships and one Chinese Research and Survey Vessel (CRSV).
Out of these ships, 65 are swarming the Sabina Shoal – 52 CMMVs, four PLAN ships and nine CCGVs.
Over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard's largest vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua left the Sabina Shoal after a five-month deployment in the area that started on April 15.
Meanwhile, 32 Chinese vessels were spotted off Pagasa Island – 31 CMMVs and one CCGV.
Another 18 vessels were seen in the Bajo de Masinloc – eight CMMVs, six CCGVs, three PLAN ships and the lone CRSV.
A total of 17 ships were spotted in the Ayungin Shoal – 10 CCGVs and seven CMMVs while another 17 CMMVs were seen in Iroquois Reef.
Eight CMMVs, meanwhile, were spotted in Lawak and Panata Islands.
China not in control of Sabina Shoal
PN spokesperson for the WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad maintained that China is still not in control of Sabina Shoal despite the departure of the BRP Teresa Magbanua.
"They have never been in control. Their presence there is illegal. We will continue performing our mandate. We will not be deterred. Ang guidance sa atin (the guidance to us) is not to let up (in our visibility patrols) not only in Escoda (Shoal) and Ayungin but all over the expanse of the WPS)," Trinidad said in a message to reporters.
Trinidad, meanwhile, declined to comment on the possible security impact of China taking control of the Sabina Shoal.
"I would not like to speculate on that. Nevertheless, we are prepared, we have our contingency plans," he said.
In a related development, Trinidad attributed the steep decline in the number of Chinese ships in the WPS to adverse weather conditions in the area.
"If you notice the decrease is more on the features that are in the northern part of the Kalayaan Island Group which is the area more affected by the weather disturbance. So we could attribute this to the weather," he said.
High morale among BRP Sierra Madre troops
Meanwhile, Trinidad said the contingent manning the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in Ayungin Shoal are all healthy and in high morale.
He also declined to comment on when the next resupply mission for the ship, noting that this is under the purview of the Puerto Princesa, Palawan-based Western Command.
Trinidad also said that troops aboard the ship have more than enough supplies at the moment.
This includes food, water, medicines and other essential items. (PNA)
