122 Chinese vessels monitored in West Philippine Sea, Navy reports

This handout satellite image released by Maxar Technologies on March 24, 2024 and dated March 23, 2024 shows Chinese and Philippine ships in waters where the Philippines said the China Coast Guard blocked their supply vessel and damaged it with water cannon, during a Philippine supply mission near Second Thomas Shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 122 Chinese vessels were monitored in various locations within the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from July 30 to August 5, according to the Philippine Navy.

Of this figure, 12 are Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, three are People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships, and 106 are Chinese maritime militia vessels.

The vessels were distributed as follows: 10 in Panatag Shoal, 13 in Ayungin Shoal, 38 in Pagasa Islands, five in Lawak Island, five in Panata Island, 13 in Sabina Shoal, four in Julian Felipe Reef, and 30 in Iroquois Reef.

READ: Over 200 Chinese ships spotted in West PH Sea by Navy

Earlier this year, over 200 Chinese vessels were reported to have swarmed various areas in the WPS, according to Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad.

This shows a significant decrease compared to the 400 foreign ships monitored last year, 85 percent of which were from China.

On July 25, a CCG ship with bow No. 3301 was spotted “cruising” near Manila Bay, as revealed by US maritime expert Ray Powell.

READ: Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea decreased – PH Navy

On the same day, the CCG ship was spotted 95 nautical miles from the mouth of Manila Bay in the morning and was seen “turning toward Scarborough Shoal” in the afternoon.