PH Navy: 40 Chinese vessels including warships seen in WPS in March

A total of 40 Chinese vessels were spotted in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in March, according to the Philippine Navy on Tuesday,

In a press conference, Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the following Chinese ships were monitored in different WPS features:

• Eight People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and 14 China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal
• Six CCG vessels in Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal
• Seven PLAN and five CCG vessels in Escoda Shoal or Sabina Shoal

Trinidad said the Philippine Navy does not speculate on the number of the Chinese warships within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zones (EEZ). According to him, the Philippine military is not deterred.

“We do not speculate on the number of PLA Navy ships in our EEZ. Suffice it to say that we have been conducting our patrols on sea and on air to show that we are not deterred by their presence within our EEZ,” Trinidad said.

Tensions in the disputed waters continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as the West Philippine Sea to reinforce Manila’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

Beijing has refused to recognize the decision. —RF, GMA Integrated News