MANILA — The Philippine Navy reported a sharp rise in Chinese maritime activity in the West Philippine Sea last month, with 90 warships and coast guard vessels sighted across four key locations.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s WPS spokesperson, said the number of Chinese vessels is up from 62 in February, reflecting Beijing’s continued push to assert its presence.
“China’s PLAN and CCG vessels are persistently operating in our waters without authorization,” Trinidad said at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. “These incursions are monitored across four strategic features: Bajo de Masinloc, Pag-asa Island, Ayungin Shoal, and Escoda Shoal.”
Breakdown of Chinese vessels per location:
Bajo de Masinloc: 49 vessels (17 PLAN, 32 CCG)
Pag-asa Island: 15 vessels (4 PLAN, 11 CCG)
Ayungin Shoal: 14 vessels (4 PLAN, 10 CCG)
Escoda Shoal: 12 vessels (7 PLAN, 5 CCG)
Trinidad labeled these activities as ICAD — illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive — threatening the Philippines’ sovereignty and attempting to exploit international focus elsewhere.
“These movements are deliberate. China seeks to capitalize on global attention on the Middle East to normalize its illegal presence,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Trinidad emphasized the AFP’s commitment to safeguarding national waters. “We will maintain a vigilant and professional presence, ensuring the protection of our maritime domain for the benefit of all Filipinos,” he added.
In March, the AFP tracked 22,755 vessels navigating Philippine waters, 19,328 of which were foreign. Of all monitored ships, 14,990 responded to international radio protocols, while 7,765 vessels failed to respond.
ia/xf
