PH Navy: 49 Chinese vessels spotted in WPS last week

A total of 49 Chinese vessels were monitored in some features of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the past week, the Philippine Navy said on Tuesday.

In an update, Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said that these Chinese ships were spotted from March 15 to 22:

• Bajo de Masinloc — 28 Chinese ships (9 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), 19 China Coast Guard vessels (CCG))
• Ayungin Shoal — eight (three PLANs, five CCGs)
• Escoda Shoal – five (three PLANs, two CCGs)
• Pagasa Island —  eight (one PLAN, seven CCGs)

This was higher compared to the 30 Chinese vessels monitored in WPS features from March 1 to 8.

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 the 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. —VAL, GMA Integrated News