PCG: China maritime militia ships decreased in WPS amid bad weather

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said the number of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has significantly decreased due to the bad weather in the last few days.

“Dahil sa sobrang pangit na panahon sa WPS, even the Chinese maritime militia that are swarming in those areas have significantly decreased,” PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said at a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

(Due to the very bad weather in the WPS, even the Chinese maritime militia that were swarming in those areas have significantly decreased.)

“Wala na ganung karaming swarming sa Rozul Reef and also in Hasa-Hasa Shoal,” he added.

(There is no more swarming in Rozul Reef and also in Hasa-Hasa Shoal.)

Asked about the previous and current number of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the area, Tarriel said he does not have the numbers at the moment.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Navy said the number of Chinese vessels monitored over some features in the WPS has increased in June.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said a total of 49 China Coast Guard (CCG) and People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were seen in the area.

Trinidad said nine CCG vessels and 14 PLAN vessels were seen in Bajo de Masinloc; 12 CCG vessels and two PLAN vessels in Ayungin Shoal; and nine CCG vessels and three PLAN Navy vessels in Pagasa Island.

“These 49 ships were not there all the time but they were in and out of the different features,” Trinidad said.

According to him, the June record was the highest reported number of Chinese vessels in the WPS compared to the 11 in January, nine in February, 35 in March, 31 in April, and 41 in May.

Tensions 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 West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’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."

China has refused to recognize the decision. — BAP, GMA Integrated News