Over 400 foreign vessels in WPS, around 85% are Chinese – AFP WESCOM

From CNN Philippines (Aug 10, 2023): Over 400 foreign vessels in WPS, around 85% are Chinese – AFP WESCOM (By CNN Philippines Staff)

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) – Over 400 foreign vessels were sighted within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, and around 85% of them are Chinese, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command (WESCOM) reported.

“Based on our last monitoring [on Wednesday], malapit-lapit sa [close to] 500. Lagpas [Over] 400...That is all foreign, all foreign vessel incursions in the West Philippine Sea now,” WESCOM Commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos told the media on Thursday.

Carlos added: “400 plus is a safe estimate because there may be a duplication of sightings… siguro mga 85% doon are Chinese [maybe around 85% of them are Chinese].”

He said that in Mischief Reef or Panganiban Reef alone, there were 191 Chinese vessels.

As a result, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner said that the Philippines would increase its maritime presence through seafaring vessels and aircraft over the contested waters.

“We really have to establish in our area, ang labanan dito padamihan. Naturally, hindi tayo lumaban sa level ng China [The fight here is through numbers. Naturally, we cannot fight China at their level head on]…We will try to deploy more ships para ma-establish yung presence sa lugar [to establish our presence in the area],” Brawner said.

This report comes after Beijing’s latest incursion in the West Philippine Sea, when Chinese Coast Guard vessels on Aug. 5 fired a water cannon at Filipino vessels en route to deliver supplies to BRP Sierra Madre stationed on Ayungin Shoal.

READ: Chinese coast guard fired water cannons at PH vessels en route to Ayungin Shoal – PCG

Carlos added that after the water cannon incident, only one Chinese vessel has been monitored so far near Ayungin Shoal.

In 2021, the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea reported that there were around 287 Chinese vessels suspected to be maritime militia scattered over various parts of the West Philippine Sea.

READ: 287 Chinese vessels remain scattered within, outside PH EEZ — WPS task force

China continues to lead incursions in the West Philippine Sea, despite the 2016 arbitral ruling under the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea which nullified its sweeping claims over the South China Sea, one that covered 80% of the Philippines' EEZ.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/8/10/over-400-vessels-wps-85-percent-chinese.html