Facade of the Philippine Navy headquarters at the Naval Station Jose Andrada in Manila (PNA file photo by Priam F. Nepomuceno)
MANILA – At least 17 Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels have been spotted in 10 out of 13 features held by the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The Philippine Navy's (PN) latest monitoring report on Tuesday showed these were among the 178 Chinese ships spotted in the WPS from Sept. 24 to 30.
Five PLAN ships were seen in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, two each in Ayungin Shoal, Pag-asa Island, and Iroquois Ree, and one each in Bajo de Masinloc, Parola Island, Likas Island, Lawak Island, Panata Island, and Rizal Reef.
The National Security Council, earlier, said a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship is patrolling off Escoda Shoal, to replace the PCG vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua which departed from the area last month.
Meanwhile, also spotted in these WPS features are 131 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels (CMMVs), 28 China Coast Guard Vessels (CCGVs), and two Chinese Research Survey Vessels (CRSVs).
The number of Chinese ships spotted during the Sept. 24 to 30 monitoring period decreased from the 251 vessels seen from Sept. 17 to 23.
"These are raw figures based on a one-week monitoring, it is too early to attribute the decrease to any particular event," PN spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a message.
He added that Manila has to be prepared for the "long game" at the WPS and look at the "strategic or bigger picture."
"Amid all of these, your Navy and your AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) will contribute (to) performing its mandate of ensuring the integrity of our national territory," he added. (PNA)
